Liberated Heart

by Measha Stone

  “Intense enough?”

  She nodded at first, taking a gulp of air. “Yes, sir.” Then, she looked up at him with a wide smile. Pride lingered in her gaze. She’d taken the pain, she’d rode the waves of the burn, and now she settled into the afterglow.

  “Fuck, pet.” She would be the death of him. If he didn’t know better, he would think she had a hell of a lot more experience than she claimed. But she didn’t. She was only now realizing the things that made her feel alive. And they appeared to be the same that rocked his world, too.

  “What do you want?” He began to unbuckle his belt, slowly pulling it from the loops of his jeans.

  “You. I just want you.” She gave a little shake of her head, and he could see the truth in her eyes. He unzipped his jeans and pulled out his cock, wrapping his fist around his shaft. A little relief but nothing like he was about to indulge himself in. If he didn’t get her pussy around his cock soon there might be permanent damage done. He watched her breathing, her breasts rising and falling, her tongue darting out to lick her lips as he pumped his cock. Who the fuck needed pornography with a woman like her on his bed?

  “Lay back, hands over your head.” She rolled back, sliding her feet from under her until she stretched out across the bed. “Spread those legs.” He gave her thighs a hard slap to get her moving, the pink hand print left behind drew out his animalistic tendencies. He finished stripping out of his clothes, managed to grab a condom and get it rolled over his painful erection before settling between her thighs.

  He reached up, plunging two fingers into her mouth. He growled as she sucked them. Her lips wrapped around his fingers, her tongue danced over his skin. His eyes rolled, and he wouldn’t deny himself anymore. One quick thrust and he was seated up to the hilt, his balls resting against her ass. She groaned from the impact, but didn’t release his fingers. Another growl rumbled through his chest as he pulled his fingers free and gripped her legs, pushing them back toward her chest. “I was going to tie you up this time. I don’t want to wait. Next time,” he promised as he thrust into her.

  She wrapped her hands into fists around the wooden slats of the headboard. She pressed against him, her hot pussy taking him in further, and he gave her ass a hard slap. Not to be deterred, she rolled her hips back again.

  He slammed into her again and again, into her hot wetness, moaning as her body responded to the invasion. Small ripples turned more intense around his cock, and he knew she was close. Repositioning his hands on her thighs, tightening his grip, he pulled his dick out and plunged forward, letting her yelp of surprise wash over him. She was helpless this way, her hands over her head, him maneuvering her body any way he wished. It was enough to bring him to the brink of his own release.

  Her cries of pleasure bounced around the room, he could feel the vibrations in his chest from the sheer intensity of her sounds. Each cry drove him further and further to the point of no return. Each shriek of pleasure a gift to him. “Oh, God! Fuck. Please. Bradley! Please sir!” Her head rocked back and forth, her eyes wild with lust. His cock ached for release. She clenched him hard, her pussy teasing him.

  “You want something?” He reached up and grabbed a fistful of her hair, pulling her head up to face him. A thin layer of sweat covered her face, some of her eyeliner had become smudged, and her mouth opened, slack from overwhelming desire. She was fucking beautiful. “What do you want? Tell me what you want.” He didn’t slow his thrusts, in fact he plunged harder, deeper. “Fucking look at me, pet. Don’t make me tell you again.” His fingers tightened in her hair, and she tried to nod.

  “I want to come. Please let me come.”

  “Why? Why do you want to come?” He held her head up, looking at her. She struggled to keep her eyes on him. Her hot pussy clamped down on him harder, she was teetering on the edge, and she’d pull him with if she slipped.

  “Please, I have to come. I can’t hold it.” The begging drew him closer still. “I want to come for you.”

  “For me? Really?” He paused in his thrusts, as much as her hot pussy begged him to move, he remained still. “Not for yourself, but for me?” She was in the bargaining stage. She would say almost anything at this point to find her release, even tell him what he wanted to hear instead of what she meant. It was bullshit, and he wouldn’t tolerate it. “Truth, pet. Always the truth.” He began to fiddle with her clit, pulling another shriek from her and loving the sound of it.

  “For me. I want to come for me,” she finally admitted. “Please let me come.”

  He began to move again, his fingers closing around her clit and rolling it between the pads. Her swollen clit was tender, and she was writhing beneath him in no time. “Never lie, never pretend to be something you aren’t.” He thrust into her unsure if she even processed the words he spoke.

  “Please, can I come, sir?” She found his eyes and asked. Nothing untrue in her gaze then, just her willingness to wait for his permission. He wondered how long he could make her wait, but at that moment his own desire rode the same wave as her own.

  “Yes. Now or not at all.” He flicked her clit once more and the strangled scream she released into the air may have filled the room, but the only thing his mind focused on was the hard clenching of her pussy around his dick, pulling his own release from him. He gave into the desire and hammered into her as she pulled on the headboard, her body pulling her into a second orgasm. Her muscles pulled at him, milking everything from him as he dove into his own orgasmic haze.

  He fell forward, resting his head on her chest. The scent of sex and sweat brought him back to reality. Her chest began to slow as she found her breath, and her fingers lightly stroked his shoulders. She was coaxing him back to reality. He managed to build enough strength to look up at her. A gentle smile greeted him.

  “You okay?” he asked, slipping from her and adjusting his position on the bed so he leaned over her, but wasn’t crushing her.

  “Better than okay.” The glossy look in her eyes told him she wasn’t quite down yet, she still fluttered up in space. He kissed her and rolled off of her, pulling her to his chest. He would hold her until she came all the way down to earth. Then he would explain his decision and hopefully she wouldn’t say no, because there was no fucking way he could let her go.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Erin stared at Bradley as he ate his breakfast. She’d gotten up early and made pancakes. From scratch. He didn’t seem to notice her staring while he shoveled in another bite of the fluffy cakes and read his paper. She shouldn’t stare. It was rude. But she couldn’t keep her eyes off of him.

  She could sense him before he even arrived next to her. It was weird. She had slipped out of bed early, before his alarm went off, so she could get the batter going. It was eerily quiet in the large house, and she wondered why he didn’t just move into a smaller place. He didn’t employ staff, he had no real need for the space. It didn’t make much sense to her.

  The morning would be hectic for her. She had at least two projects that had been sorely neglected over the past few weeks, and she needed to set up a time to speak with a realtor to check out her options with the house. First things first, a nice breakfast with him before she headed out. The idea of leaving him made her stomach ache, so she hadn’t touched her breakfast at all. She tried to mention her plans for the morning to him the previous night but whenever she brought up the morning, he distracted her. A kiss, a fondle, all great distractions, but she never got the conversation started. It was probably better this way. Eat, dress, leave.

  “Aren’t you going to eat?” He looked up from his paper and pointed to her full plate.

  “Oh. Uh.” She blinked a few times. Had he caught her gaping at him? “I’m not that hungry. I ate while I cooked.” She had tried one of the pancakes earlier, that counted, didn’t it? She didn’t want to put it off anymore. If she was going to get through this without breaking down and crying, or begging him to keep her, she needed to get her ass in gear. “Actually, I should get going.” She
picked up the plate and brought it to the sink, dumping the contents into the trash.

  His fork clanked on the plate when he dropped it. “It’s only seven.” He looked at his watch then back to her. “You said you don’t get to the office usually until nine.”

  “Right. Yeah.” She put her plate in the dishwasher. “But, still.”

  “Wait.” The chair grated when he pushed back from the table, reaching her in only a few strides. “I should have done this last night.” He took a deep breath and shoved his hands into his jeans. His muscles flexed with the movement. “I know we said this was just a weekend thing. Just a little fling to get you over your ex.”

  “I think I was already over him when I met you.” She avoided his eyes when she made that statement.

  “Yeah. I think so, too.” He cupped her chin in his hand. “What I was going to say is, I know we said weekend fling, rebound fun, but I’d like to keep seeing you.” His shoulders squared, but he didn’t let go of her. “In fact, I wouldn’t mind seeing you tonight after work. Here. Stay with me.”

  She pulled away and took a step back. Isn’t that what she wanted? To have him for longer? So why were her insides twisting into more knots than before? “Bradley, I can’t move in with you.” She shook her head. Logical Erin was back in force.

  “You can stay the week, can’t you? I mean, it’s closer to work here for you. A week, then we’ll decide what to do.”

  “Would I have my own room?” If it was like a roommate situation maybe it would feel less rushed.

  “No.” The word dropped between them, heavy and loud. She couldn’t help but smile over the irritation in his eyes, the possessiveness lurking there. “If you stay, you stay where I put you, and I put you in my bed.” The gruffness of his voice sent tingles over her skin.

  “A week?”

  “We’ll re-evaluate then. But before you say yes, I need you to understand a few things.” He stepped to her, closing the gap between them. Her face warmed under the light touch of his fingertips as he traced her jawline. “I’m going to teach you my likes and my dislikes. We won’t venture out of your limits, ever, but I will push you.”

  “Like train me?” She lost herself in his eyes, they were so dark, so warm, so intriguing.

  “Yes. How to kneel, how to sit, how to speak, how to suck cock.”

  Her face flushed at the last item. “I-I didn’t do it right?” Damn him for making her feel like a stupid high school girl. She wasn’t the most skilled, but he seemed to have enjoyed himself pretty thoroughly.

  He let out a burly laugh. “Oh, you did it just right, damn near perfect. But I like things, well, a little rough. I’m going to teach you to take me all the way in, down your throat, until tears fall down your face, your makeup smears and you’re left breathless.”

  She knew should be terrified. That sounded mean and horrible, but her body responded to his words, and she wondered what it would do when it actually happened. “You like my discomfort.” She licked her dry lips. He already had her panting with the way he was looking at her, holding her.

  “Your pain is my pleasure.” He nodded and laughed, a low guttural sound that warmed her. “Sorry, just a little cliché I guess. Yes, Erin, I like your pain, I like the sounds you make when the flogger strikes. The way your eyes open wide when I pinch those nipples of yours, and when you beg me, my dick damn near explodes.”

  “Oh.” His thumb ran over her lower lip, and she reached out with her tongue and licked him. He grinned. “And outside of the bedroom?”

  “Outside of the bedroom our dynamic doesn’t change.” A sadness flashed in his eyes when he spoke, as though he’d just confessed a dark sin.

  “Will I still get to make you breakfast in the mornings?” She tried to smile. She wanted to. She wanted to make his coffee, bring him his meals, make his bed. She wanted to do all of the things that made his life a little easier.

  “Absolutely.” A relief washed over his face. “And dinner if you want.”

  “It won’t bother you to have me underfoot?” Jonathan hated having her clean up behind him, doing the dishes right after dinner, folding his clothes for him.

  “You won’t be. You’ll be exactly where I want you.” His hands framed her face and pulled her to him. Lightly his lips brushed hers, then with more force, until he claimed her in a possessive kiss. His tongue dove deep inside her mouth as he pressed his body against her, trapping her against the counter behind her. His hand slid behind her, entwining in her hair as he deepened the kiss. She rested her hands on his chest, not pushing, not clawing, just taking in the strength of him as she kissed him back. She needed him in that moment, needed his strength.

  When he pulled away his pupils were dilated, his mouth curled into a lewd grin. “There will be other things. Things I ask you to do that you may not like, but I’ll expect you to do them anyway.”

  “Okay.” There was little doubt in her mind that she wouldn’t say no to him about anything.

  “So accommodating.” He chuckled. “Mm hm, we’ll see. For now, I’ll have George drive you to work. What time do you think you’ll be finished?” He didn’t release her, he kept his hand fisted in her hair. The pain of it being pulled only centered her attention on him more.

  “I have meetings this morning. I was planning on working until dinner time.”

  “Good. Then I’ll meet you here for dinner.” His fingers slowly released her hair, but didn’t move from behind her head.

  “I have to go back to my house. I need clothes. I need to get my mail.”

  “Fair enough. George can drive you.” She shook her head. “Already defying me?” He grinned down at her.

  “The train would be faster at that time of day. I’ll just take the train.”

  He raised an eyebrow. The man could look downright terrifying when he wanted to. “Okay. I’m supposed to take the night shift tonight anyway. Alex apparently has fucked up with Alyssa and is side-tracked. I’ll be home by ten, at the latest. Once everything’s in full swing at the club.” He pulled her against him, tucking her under his chin. She couldn’t help the sigh that escaped her. “George will pick you up at your house at eight o’clock, not a second later.” He kissed her forehead and let her go.

  “Okay.” She nodded and took a deep breath. “I need to get my purse.” She left him in the kitchen, her insides still trembling. He wanted her to stay. He wanted her to stay the whole week. And maybe more? One part of her told her she was moving too fast, to slow down before she crashed, but the other part—the part she normally ignored—cheered her on. She needed a cheerleader right now.

  *

  Erin walked into her old bedroom and looked around. She’d been staying with Bradley for several days, and already her house felt more foreign than his. The last several days had opened her mind to a part of herself that she realized she’d been trying to hide. Not just from the outside world, but mostly herself. If she had admitted to her desires and her needs, she would have to admit that Jonathan wasn’t the guy for her. She would have seen that he was the guy at the moment, but not the guy for forever.

  Not that she deluded herself into thinking Bradley would be forever. She wouldn’t go that far. She wouldn’t allow herself to think that. It would make it only that much harder later when she had to leave, when he was finished showing her what he wanted to show her. She didn’t want to think about that either. It didn’t seem to matter which direction her thoughts went, the endpoint was the same, disappointment. But, she’d spent most of her young life preparing for the future, planning and plotting. This time, she was going to just let the dice roll. See how things played out. She could do that. Right?

  The living room felt cold. She decided to turn down the AC. She wasn’t staying there, no reason to throw money out the window. Her cell buzzed and she pulled it out right away, expecting a call from Bradley. One of his rules involved her phone. If he called or texted her she was never to ignore it. If she was busy she was to respond with a timeframe of when
she’d get back to him. “It’s about respect.” He had explained. “I won’t ignore you, and I won’t be ignored.” She didn’t see anything wrong with that. She knew a few girls at work liked to play games with their boyfriends or husbands. Ignoring them until they got the apology they wanted, or played hard to get by being evasive. It was a petty game, and she was glad he felt the same.

  Where are you???

  Kelly, again. She’d gotten at least five texts a day between Jessica and Kelly. From what she’d found out from Bradley, which wasn’t much, Alex had his hands full begging forgiveness from Alyssa. She’d only met Alyssa a few times, but Bradley assured her she was worth his groveling, and Alex deserved every rejection he got until she was good and ready to forgive him.

  Home. Busy.

  There. She hadn’t ignored her. Bradley had been adamant that she contact her friends after she left his house on Monday morning. They were concerned and even though she knew Kendrick knew where she was, Kelly and Jessica would be climbing the walls if she didn’t at least let them know she was alive. But it wasn’t enough for them, they continued to dig for details she wasn’t ready to spill.

  They’d kept plenty of secrets from her. She just wanted this one. This one time, to be all her own and all about her. She didn’t want to analyze or judge it, she just wanted to keep enjoying it while she had it. Kelly of all people would probably understand, but she’d still want all of the details and information. Just a few more days, then she’d get them together for lunch or something. But not yet.