Craving His Command - A Doms Of Genesis Novella

by Jenna Jacob

  Her reaction had been quite a boost to his old ego. Of course, if he’d been half a gentleman, Kellan would have introduced Hannah as his daughter from the very start. But he had a sadistic bastard inside him from time to time and was curious to see just how far Mercy would go.

  His smile faltered.

  Hannah’s visit would prompt a million questions from Mercy, none of which he was ready to answer, at least not yet. Oh, Kellan knew he’d eventually have to come clean about Leena, sooner or later, but he wanted to learn more about Mercy. She might be sympathetic to his moral dilemma, but he worried she might be sickened at the thought of…

  Of what? Staying friends, or do you think you could actually offer her something more, like…commitment?

  He exhaled a heavy sigh. He knew the answer. But as Hannah had reminded him earlier, life wasn’t always black and white. If he found the strength to grow a pair and managed to keep his hands off Mercy sexually, he might possibly be able to teach her about the lifestyle. But eventually she’d grow tired of simply scening with him. She’d beg for his collar, and when he was forced to refuse, it would crush her. He couldn’t claim her as his slave. Couldn’t promise the kind of commitment he craved to give her…the one she, too, craved and deserved. Because in his heart, he was still Leena’s Master.

  Kellan scrubbed his hands over his face.

  Contemplating anything so foolish was a waste of time.

  He and Mercy could share a friendship, but that was all.

  She’d already burrowed too deeply inside him.

  Fuck! He couldn’t even walk past the damn guest room without waltzing inside to stare at her enticing beauty.

  She weakened him…his resolve…his emotions.

  The power she wielded over him was frustrating. He’d never allowed himself to be so susceptible to any woman other than Leena. Kellan didn’t know how to cope with his own weakness…the weakness Mercy made him feel.

  The conversation he’d had with Hannah in his study earlier wormed its way into his brain.

  He’d explained to his daughter that he wasn’t sexually involved with Mercy. Of course, he hadn’t confessed that he damn well wanted to be. But his daughter wasn’t buying it, at least not in the beginning.

  “Just friends?” Hannah had scoffed. “Daddy, please. I’m not three years old anymore. I know Santa Clause and the Easter bunny don’t exist. Stop, please! I see the way you look at her…the way Mercy looks at you.”

  “That’s not the point,” Kellan argued. “I’m married.”

  “To a zombie.” Pain pinched her features. “I’m sorry, but it’s true. Mom left us a long time ago, and you stopped living, Dad. I’ve watched you. Mom wouldn’t want that. She’d want you to be happy.”

  “I am happy. I have you.”

  “I’m your daughter. I’m talking about companionship…love. Don’t lock your heart away in the same prison that’s holding Mom.” Hannah frowned. “Does Mercy know about her yet?”

  “No. And I intend to keep it that way.”

  Hannah shook her head, wearing an expression that screamed he was being obtuse.

  “You and Mercy obviously have feelings for one another. Act on them, Dad. You only live once.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “None of us are promised a tomorrow.”

  “I’m not going to commit adultery, Hannah.”

  “You already are. Natalie. Remember?”

  Her words rocked the foundation out from under him. Kellan had no clue Hannah knew about his mistress.

  “How did you know?”

  Hannah gave him a dismissive wave of her hand. “Last summer, you were out cleaning the pool. When I came inside to get us some drinks, the phone was ringing. I didn’t get to it in time and the answering machine picked up. A woman left a message reminding you it was time to renew the contract for Natalie’s apartment. I quickly put two and two together.”

  “I’m sorry you found out.”

  “I’m not.” Hannah scoffed. “Are you in love with both of them…Natalie and Mercy?”

  “No. Natalie and I have no emotional ties whatsoever. It’s nothing but… No. I don’t love her.”

  “But you do Mercy. I see it…feel it. Don’t you see, you’re already committing adultery, Dad…at least adultery of the heart. If you’re afraid I’m going to think less of you for loving someone other than Mom, you’re wrong.” Hannah paused and studied him. “That’s not what you’re afraid of, is it? No, you’re afraid that because you have feelings for Mercy… that you’re being unfaithful to Mom. That’s it, isn’t it?”

  Kellan stared at his daughter. She was too observant and way too smart. “I took a vow to her, before God and a whole roomful of people.”

  “She took a vow to you, too, Daddy. But either God or Satan or fate playing a sick and cruel joke on us annulled it.” Hannah quickly swiped a tear from her cheek. “She’d want you to be happy, Daddy. She loved you enough to want you to go on without her.”

  He couldn’t find the courage to tell his daughter that he’d foolishly clung to the hope that one day Leena would wake from her catatonic prison. That she could come home once again, and they’d spend the rest of their lives happy and hopelessly in love…like some fucking storybook.

  Kellan swallowed the ball of emotion lodged in his throat and hugged his daughter fiercely. “I’ll think about it, sunshine,” he choked.

  “I love you, Daddy. You’re my whole world. I want you to be happy again. It’s not healthy living alone and isolating yourself the way you do. Like you and Mom always taught me…life isn’t black and white; it’s a million shades of gray. Let yourself love again, fully and completely. It’s time to move on. Really, it is.”

  Mercy stirred in her sleep, drawing Kellan back to the present.

  Hannah was right. He could easily lose his heart to Mercy. Hell, in many ways, he already had. But could he live with himself? The jury was still deliberating that one. Of course, there was always the chance that once she learned he was legally still married, she’d loathe him. Mercy possessed a strong moral fiber. He’d seen her display it time and time again at Genesis.

  What a goddamn clusterfuck!

  “No. No.” Mercy’s whimper was filled with fear.

  Moving in close to her, Kellan watched as her tears spilled onto the pillow.

  Fucking Kerr. The prick was still tormenting her dreams.

  A long, mournful wail tore from her throat. Kellan couldn’t allow her to suffer through another nightmare. Gripping Mercy’s arm to keep her from clubbing him in the jaw again, he shook her gently.

  “Wake up, Mercy,” he commanded in a tone he only used at the club.

  She bolted upright, nearly head-butting him, and let out a loud, long, blood-curdling scream. Her eyes wildly searched the room, no doubt looking for the son of a bitch Kerr.

  “Mercy!” he repeated in the same firm tone. “You’re safe. See? No monsters here…just me.”

  Her eyes grew wide and her face paled. “Get away from me. Don’t touch me!”

  The fierceness of her growl and bared teeth told him this wasn’t the same nightmare she’d experienced last night. Kellan raised his hands in surrender and inched back into the chair. “It must have been a pretty bad one this time.”

  Mercy drew her knees to her chest, wrapped her arms around her legs, and nodded.

  “Purge it from your mind and tell me about it.”

  Her chin began to quiver and fat tears slid down her cheeks.

  It gutted him to see her so lost, broken, and frightened. The distance he’d purposely put between them to soothe her gnawed him up inside. He needed to comfort her…soothe her and vanquish the terror in her eyes. Slowly, Kellan eased onto the bed. She shot him a sideways look of warning but didn’t stop him.

  “Relax and take a deep breath. You know I’d never do anything to hurt you, right?”

  She looked to be weighing his words carefully. After several long seconds, Mercy finally nodded, then let out a mournful wail as she la
unched herself into his arms.

  Relief flooded his system and he engulfed her tiny frame tightly. He hugged her to his chest and let her sob. Whatever terrifying scene had unraveled in her brain, it had clearly sent her over the edge far more than her actual assault.

  “Shh, it’s okay, angel. I’ve got you. No one’s going to hurt you while I’m around.”

  “It was you, at least in the beginning,” she choked out.

  “Me? What did I do? Tell me.”

  “You… I-I was on my knees for you, and you wanted me to please you.”

  What she began describing wasn’t terrifying at all. In fact, it was one of his favorite fantasies…her on her knees before him. But he knew something more ominous was coming.

  “My heart was soaring. I was so ready to show you how…” She paused as a mighty tremor shook her body. “But then you turned mean and started treating me like K-Kerr. I was scared. When I told you that I didn’t understand, you got even more pissed and started ripping your face off.”

  Okay, so he hadn’t been expecting anything quite so gory. Kellan squeezed her tight, silently offering encouragement for her to continue.

  “But then, Kerr said that he killed you and was wearing your face as a mask. I think he wanted to confuse me, but it wasn’t you…it was him. He told me…” She sobbed harder. “He repeated what he told me last night.”

  “What did he say to you last night?”

  Mercy didn’t answer. She sucked in several deep breaths, as if trying to regain her composure. Kellan waited patiently for her to answer him.

  “He said he’d be back to drain the life out of me.”

  The palpable wave of fear that rolled off her nearly flattened Kellan.

  Kerr’s continued reign of terror over Mercy made him want to punch his fist through the fucking headboard. Kellan couldn’t speak. He was too busy biting back his fury as he gently stroked his hand up and down her arm.

  “It was so real,” she whispered. “H-He pulled out this huge knife and told me that he was going to cut me into pieces and lay them out on the bed for me to see.”

  Mercy inched back. She raised her red-rimmed eyes up at him and Kellan’s heart squeezed. He wiped her tears with the pads of his thumbs and pressed a soft kiss to her forehead.

  “I’m scared.” Her confession was whispered so softly he almost didn’t hear it.

  Seeing this feisty, self-assured woman reduced to a shattered shell of terror made his blood boil. The primal need to protect her and slay her fears consumed him. Though stupid and dangerous, Kellan couldn’t help himself; he cupped her cheeks and brushed a featherlight kiss over her lips.

  Mercy mewled. She hesitated for one brief second and then melted against him.

  Her surrender set his whole world on fire.

  Cinching a fist in her silky hair, Kellan guided her head back as he palmed her slender neck. When he stroked his tongue over her petal-soft lips, Mercy instantly parted them, welcoming him inside her mouth. Plunging deep, he swept his tongue over every wet, silky crevice.

  Liquid silver shot through his veins.

  The kiss turned raw and demanding.

  His cock lurched.

  Mercy dragged her fingertips up his arm, leaving a trail of sputtering electricity against his skin.

  His eager shaft grew harder, hungry to squeeze inside her hot, slick openings, and claim her heart, mind, body, and soul.

  His pulse thundered and roared in his ears.

  Mercy clutched his shoulders, hanging on for dear life, while their tongues swirled and explored in a sultry, wet dance.

  She rocked her hips as she ardently meshed herself against him.

  She was so fucking responsive, so alive.

  He felt as if she’d awakened him from a century-old slumber.

  Molded perfectly to him, her lips…hell, her whole body felt soft, like warm velvet.

  Kellan’s head swam.

  He was lost.

  He couldn’t devour her fast enough.

  Couldn’t slake the ruthless hunger she unleashed inside him.

  Couldn’t keep from touching her silky, hot flesh.

  Kellan inched a hand under her sweater. The sensual heat of her body instantly enveloped him. He scraped his thumb over her bra. The feel of her pebbled nipple sent a guttural growl to roll up from his chest. Mercy answered with a needy tone of her own, then arched her back, pressing her heavy breast into his palm.

  The sultry little siren was sending him up in flames.

  Eating at her like a man possessed, Kellan kneaded and squeezed her supple orb.

  He was gone…lost in the raging fire of sweet Mercy.

  She started tugging at his tee, lifting it up over his abs and to his chest. He felt her frustration as she struggled to peel it off his body. He broke from her mouth long enough to shuck the material over his head. When he bent to claim her lips, she was gazing with awe at the definition of the muscles etched on his abs. For once, all the hours of sweating and straining at the gym had paid off.

  He deftly grabbed the hem of her sweater, pulled it from her body, and sent it sailing over the side of the bed. While he gazed at the swell of her milky-white breasts protruding from beneath the bronze-colored bra, Mercy placed her palms on his chest and dragged them down his torso.

  His body hummed and his mouth watered.

  When she reached behind her back and began working the clasp of her bra, reality hijacked Kellan’s libido.

  What the fuck are you doing? She has a concussion! Remember? She’s not well enough for all the things you want to do to her. You’re supposed to be a responsible Dominant. Start acting like one!

  His subconscious’ smack upside the head caused the fog of lust to vanish.

  Kellan blinked at Mercy. Still mesmerized by the sight of her half-naked body and swollen, wet lips, he wondered how he’d allowed things to get so far out of hand so damn quickly.

  Fuck!

  He had to put the brakes on…fast.

  “No. Wait. Don’t do that.”

  Mercy stilled. Her brows furrowed.

  “Your brain needs time to… You’re not well enough for us to do this.”

  “I’m fine. If you think you’re stopping now…I’ll give you a concussion, mister.”

  While he wanted to laugh at her threat, he’d much rather have taken the sassy hellcat over his knee and set her ass on fire. Kellan couldn’t stand it when subs tried to Top from the bottom. Ever since finding her in his courtroom yesterday, Mercy had been consciously or subconsciously trying to manipulate him. Did she even know her behavior was unacceptable for a sub? Kerr probably never bothered to teach her about protocol at all.

  She needed education and enlightenment.

  Needed a firm, guiding hand.

  Needed him.

  Kellan wasn’t ready to shove a stake in the ground quite yet. He needed time to decide if he could actually move on and live happily ever after as Hannah had urged him to do.

  Oh, so training this eager sub is suddenly outside your wheelhouse, but stripping her bare and fucking her injured brains out is perfectly fine? Stop screwing with her head. Get your shit together, ace!

  Before Kellan could retrieve her sweater and cover up the creamy temptation of flesh, the straps of her bra slid down her arms. The molded cups followed next until she was left wearing nothing but the black pants.

  He mutely stared at her breasts. Her rosy-pink nipples drew up before his eyes. He wanted to pluck and suck her succulent berries. Kellan’s heart and cock lurched in tandem. Like a rolling blackout, the synapses in his brain began shutting down. All energy was redirected to his cock, now growing impossibly tighter.

  With a look of determination lining her face, Mercy clasped his wrist and drew his hand to one soft, plump, and pear-shaped breast.

  Oh, this was going way beyond Topping from the bottom.

  Submitting to her did not bode well.

  Time to take control of the feisty, usurping sub.


  Kellan jerked his had free and pinned her with a warning glare.

  “What do you think you’re doing, angel?” His reprimand was low and even. Mercy blinked up at him as a crimson hue painted her cheeks. “You’re not in charge, little one. I’m the Dom. You’re not allowed to control me in any fashion, ever again. Is that clear?”

  As he laid down the law, he softly stroked a knuckle over the fiery flesh of her face.

  His erection throbbed like a virgin heart and strained beneath his sweats like a goddamn flagpole. Ignoring his body’s incessant demand, Kellan bent and retrieved her sweater from the floor and handed it to her.

  “Put this back on.”

  A single tear slid down her cheek as she wordlessly complied.

  “Look at me, Mercy.”

  She closed her eyes briefly and sucked in a deep breath, then raised her chin. She met his gaze. Beneath her unshed tears, Kellan saw a cyclone of emotions swirling inside her: shame, regret, confusion, and desire were the most prevalent.

  She was so fucking lost.

  He couldn’t not help her.

  Kellan squared his shoulders, clasped his hands behind his back, and welcomed the slide into the glorious peace and freedom of total Dominant headspace.

  “Hands behind your head, angel.” He purposely lowered his voice while infusing his tenor with what Mercy needed: command, control, and direction.

  A tremor shook her body as she sucked in a startled breath. Kneeling up on the bed, she raised her arms and clasped her fingers behind her head before lowering her lashes, in total submission.

  He let loose an inward roar.

  His pulsating cock leaked like a sieve.

  He’d lost count of the number of times he’d fantasized seeing here before him in this way. Like in his dreams, her sublime surrender made him want to gorge on her…fill the empty places inside him with her power, her precious trust. His palms itched to cup her proffered breasts and absorb her yielding energy…let it flow through him and feed the emaciated Dominant inside him.