by Marie Tuhart
“Regina. She doesn’t mind a good flogging.”
“Not Lara?”
“She’s not ready.”
“Are you sure about that?”
“Why would you ask that?”
Max gestured for him to turn around, and he did, just in time to see Lara step onto the stage.
Colby blinked. His eyes had to be playing tricks on him. What the hell was she wearing?
His gaze met hers, and he saw need and desire there. His gaze roamed over her body. She had on a purple almost see-through teddy with a matching thong. Nothing else. Her hair was pulled back.
His heart pounded. Damn, his woman was beautiful.
Yes, Lara was his woman. She had his heart and more. He’d told her he loved her and had several times more since that day in the café.
Her family was in the rear-view mirror. Aunt Tammy had put her foot down after the last stunt and called a board of directors’ meeting. Apparently, there was a small, but enforceable, moral clause in the contract Lara’s father signed.
Early retirement was his way out, and he took it. As for her brothers and ex, well, they were still in jail with their lawyer trying to plea them out, but the DA wasn’t going to budge. The way things were progressing, she probably wouldn’t be by her family or ex again for a very long time.
Lara stopped in front of him. “Sir Colby, I’m here as your sub.” Her voice was soft, and she ducked her head.
Colby was stunned. “You know what this means?”
She lifted her head and took a deep breath. “Yes, Sir. I’m ready to play with you in the club. I want to feel your flogger on my ass in front of our friends and family.”
Colby barely controlled the urge to pull her into his arms and kiss her silly.
“Very well.” He held out his hand.
Her hand trembled slightly as she placed it in his.
He led her into the scene area, his cock pulsing with each step. “Never forget you are mine.” He gave her a hard kiss before he led her to the St. Andrew’s Cross. “I’m going to restrain your arms to the cross, are you okay with that?”
“Oh yes, Sir.”
Her voice was breathless, and Colby’s blood heated.
“I’ll leave your clothing on until it’s time for the flogging.”
“Thank you, Sir.” Her voice was soft, but that didn’t stop his cock from jumping with every word she uttered. “All you have to do is undo the ties on the shoulder straps, Sir.”
“Clever.” Colby pulled the restraints out of his bag. “Ready sweetheart?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Safe word?”
Lara smiled. “Cookies.”
He dropped a kiss on her nose and led her over to the cross. “I’ll leave your ankles undone.” He ran his fingers over her right arm, noting the goosebumps on her skin. “Your skin is so soft.” He gently lifted her arm up and fastened the restraint, then attached it to the cross and did the same with her left arm. “Okay?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her voice was soft, but steady.
“Pale skin.” He dropped a kiss on her shoulder before he ran his hands down her arms, then over the sheer fabric until he reached the hem. Slipping his hands under the hem, he skimmed his fingers over her back.
A shudder went through her body. “I can’t wait to see your skin pink from my flogger.”
“I can’t either, Sir.”
Colby slipped his arms around her waist and skimmed up to cup her breasts before backing off. He undid the ties on her shoulders, and the fabric pooled around her feet.
His heart pounded as he caressed her naked back. This was his Lara.
* * * *
A shudder racked her body when Colby undid the ties. Lara took a deep breath and closed her eyes. The cool air of the club caressed her skin. She wanted to do this. Not just for Colby but for herself. She knew he wanted to play in the club and so did she. She was ready. She loved and trusted him. The last of her fear about how others would view her melted away.
“I’m going to start with the rabbit flogger.”
“Yes, Sir.” They’d talked about this when playing at home. Colby would talk her through what he planned to do.
The first swat from the rabbit flogger caused her to jump, then she concentrated. The slight murmur of the voices, the swish of the flogger. Colby kept his swats to her ass. Her muscles relaxed.
Her body began to warm. That’s how it was when he flogged her at home. The warming of her skin. Colby talked to the audience, but his words didn’t penetrate her mind. She concentrated on the sensations flowing over her skin and the loving touch of Colby’s flogger.
Colby’s cool hand rubbed her ass. “How you doing?”
“Green, Sir.” They’d agreed to the normal safe words except if she wanted him to stop.
“All right.” Colby stepped away and began to flog her shoulders. The tension swept away from Lara.
He stopped. Again, he caressed where he flogged, talking to the crowd at the same time.
“I’m going to move up to the suede cow flogger.”
“Yes, Sir.” Lara took a deep breath and let it out. Her shoulders slumped. She’d been tense these past few weeks. More than she realized. The flogging was helping her relax.
The first strike of the suede flogger surprised her, and her mouth fell open. With each strike, she let her body relax into the sting on her skin. Every so often, Colby would stop and talk to her, then to the audience.
Now he was flogging her ass and the back of her thighs. The image of the subs surrounding her and the looks on the Doms faces tonight rose into her mind. Tears gathered in her eyes.
Her heart had filled with warmth and more. She’d found a community, a family. One that didn’t judge her for her wants, her needs.
Tears began streaming down her face as she let go of all the emotions she’d been holding inside. The pain in her heart that her family would never understand her, the knowledge she loved Colby with all she was, and knowing her family would never accept him. Not that she cared. Not anymore. Colby was the man she wanted.
“Lara, sweetheart.” Colby whispered in her ear. “That’s it. Let it go.” The flogger fell to the floor as he began undoing her arms. “You’re with me, so there’s no reason to hold back. You did so well tonight. I’ve got you, sweetheart.”
She felt him lift her in his arms. A blanket was thrown over her. “Take care of her,” Max said.
Lara’s arms encircled Colby’s neck as he walked away from the play area over to the aftercare area. Tears still flowing down her face. Lord, she loved this man so much it hurt.
He sat down and held her in his lap. “Lara, sweetheart. I’m so damn proud of you. You did fantastic for your first club flogging.”
Lara shook her head as her tears continued to flow. “I can’t stop crying.” Her words were garbled. Darn it. She slid her hand up and cupped his cheek, then leaned forward and brushed a kiss over his lips.
Colby’s eyes widened.
A wad of tissues was dropped into her lap. Colby picked one up and began wiping her face.
“I’m okay,” she finally said in a wobbly voice.
“Yes, you are. You are fantastic.”
She tapped his cheek. “You helped me let go of all the emotion I’d been bottling up for a long time. It all came pouring out of me.”
His eyes gleamed with pride. “I’m happy I could do that for you.”
She pressed her palm harder against his cheek. “What you did was perfect; it allowed me a freedom I never allowed myself before.”
Colby pulled her close. “That’s part of what a power exchange is. Allowing each other to fly free.”
“I like that.”
Colby lowered his forehead to rest against hers, and they both let out a breath. They sat there for a while, then Lara shivered.
“You’re cold,” Colby said.
“A bit, Sir.”
Colby waved Regina over and asked her to get Lara another blanket. Regina brought
one over, and Colby draped it over her shoulders.
“I want to know how the scene went for you, Sir?”
“Perfect until I saw you crying. Baby, you tore my heart out with your tears.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. Now I know you can release your emotions that way.” Colby glanced up. Lara turned her head.
Max, Jordan, Damon, Sierra, Crystal and Tessa all stood at the edge of the aftercare area. Not so close they’d interfere with Colby’s aftercare, but close enough to assist if Colby or Lara needed help. Colby told them she was all right, and they slipped off to give them more privacy.
“Family,” she whispered.
“Yes.” Colby tightened his arms around her.
“I love you so much. You are my life.” The words slipped from her lips. She’d said them before, but this time, they meant so much more.
Colby’s eyes widened. He opened his mouth.
Lara placed her fingers against his lips. “Before you say anything. I want you to know that having you in my life is better than I even imagined. I needed you. You helped me get past my fears about what others might think about seeing me here.”
She took a deep breath. “You’ve shown me so much. I’ve grown as a person because of you.”
“I’ve said it before, but damn, I love you.” He captured her lips with his.
Lara gave herself over to his kiss. When they broke apart, Lara laid her head down on Colby’s shoulder. This is where she wanted to be. In his life, in his arms. Forever.
Epilogue
An hour later, Lara and Colby walked around the club hand in hand. Everyone smiled at them, and several of the Doms told Lara she’d done a fantastic job for her first full display.
Colby beamed. Love shone from his eyes for everyone to see, and Lara was pretty sure her love showed too.
The music stopped, and everyone turned to see Max standing at one of the stations. “Friends and family, tonight has been a wonderful night. We’ve played and enjoyed each other’s company.”
A cheer went up.
“As you know, our membership is expanding, and with that, the club is going to be expanding as well.” A murmur went through the crowd.
“Does that mean you’re closing for a while?” one of the Doms asked.
Max shook his head. “The club will stay open. There will be some rearranging of scenes and a few other things. Construction will start on the new portion of the club in the next few weeks. But there is another reason I’m up here tonight.” Max glanced over at Sierra.
“I wonder what he’s up to?” Colby asked.
“I think I might know.” Lara smiled. If Max was going to do what she thought.
“Sierra, my love.” Max took a knee on the raised platform. The room stilled. “I love you with all my heart; will you become my wife and accept my collar.”
“Oh. My. God. Yes.” Sierra ran up to Max and threw her arms around him as he stood.
The room broke out in applause.
“You know, this means we want you to cater the bachelorette party,” Crystal said walking up to Lara and Colby, with Tessa by her side.
“It would be an honor, but I think it would be much better if it was handled by a professional party planner. And I have an idea of where we can hold it.” She gave the two women a grin, and they all laughed.
“What place is that?” Colby asked as the two women walked away to congratulate their friend.
Lara shook her head. “I won’t spoil it, but we’re going to have some girl fun.”
“What kind of fun?” Colby mock-growled.
She laughed. “Nothing you won’t approve of, Sir. You have my heart and my submission. For always.”
“I can live with for always.”
Colby kissed her, leaving no doubt in her mind that they would have a lifetime of love together.
Thank you for reading Ravish, the fourth book in the Wicked Sanctuary series. If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you prefer, and know that it would be greatly appreciated.
For new release information and news about Marie Tuhart, please join her newsletter.
If you enjoyed Ravish, Possess will be released in winter of 2021.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Marie Tuhart lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. She loves to read and write, and when she’s not writing, she spends time with her two dogs, Tommy and Trina, family, traveling and enjoying life.
Marie is a multi-published author with The Wild Rose Press and Trifecta Publishing, and is self-published. To be alerted to her new releases, you can join Marie’s newsletter or check out her website: www.mairetuhart.com
OTHER BOOKS BY MARIE TUHART
Her Desert Prince (Desert Destiny)
Her Desert Doctor (Desert Destiny)
Her Desert Horseman (Desert Destiny)
Her Desert Protector (Desert Destiny)
Highland Dom (McMillan Passion)
Bound & Teased
Claimed by the Sheikh
Billionaire’s Cowboy’s Conquest
More of You (Club Crave)
Reflections of you (Club Crave)
Bound to Love You (Club Crave)
Hot for You (Club Crave)
Tempt (Wicked Sanctuary Series)
Entice (Wicked Sanctuary Series)
Seduce (Wicked Sanctuary Series)
Ravish (Wicked Sanctuary Series)
Possess (Wicked Sanctuary Series) Pre-order now Winter 2021
Spring 2022 – Tantalize (Wicked Sanctuary Series)
PREVIEW OF POSSESS
Prologue
“You have to come with me!” Dani begged Allyson.
Allyson Young regarded her friend. “Why?” Allyson turned away so her friend wouldn’t see her grin.
“Please.”
Allyson stifled her laughter. Only Dani could make one word sound like ten. “A new bookstore, you say?” Allyson worked for the city planner’s office, and she hadn’t heard anything about a new bookstore.
“Well, sort of.”
Allyson turned to face her friend. “Explain, please.”
“It’s the expansion to Kleinman’s.”
“The adult store?” Allyson vaguely remembered something about it. Rudy her co-worker, had made some snide remark about being assigned to it instead of her. Especially since the construction was being done by Riggs Construction.
“Yes. They had a small book area and have monthly book club meetings, but since the meetings exploded, Damon decided to expand the shop.”
“What do they have book club meetings about?” Allyson was curious.
“Mainly romance books. The spicy, sexy ones.”
Allyson laughed. Dani loved those books, Allyson had read a few herself and liked them. “I see. Do I need to change?” She indicated her jeans and black knit shirt with puffy sleeves.
“It’s perfect.” Dani gave her a hug.
“Thank you for coming with me,” Dani said once they were in Dani’s small compact car driving toward the store.
“Sure. I don’t understand why you needed me to come with you.” Dani went silent, and Allyson glanced over at her. Dani’s features were tight, her lips pressed together, and her fingers clenched the steering wheel. “What’s going on?”
Dani stopped at a red light and looked at Allyson. “Remember when I told you I dated a guy in college?”
“Yeah, but you never told me who it was.” Dani had gone to the University of Washington for horticulture and landscaping. Allyson had stayed and gone to a community college in Pleasant Valley to learn about the planner’s office. “You left right after you graduated to intern with a company in San Francisco.”
“Right, and I came back when Gramps got sick last year.” The light turned green. “Well, my college ex is going to be there.”
“Oh? Do I know him?”
“You might. He works for Riggs Construction.”
“It’s not the owner, is it?” Allyson liked Zeke. H
is brown eyes would dance when he smiled and all those muscles… She wanted to run her hands over them. She and Zeke had been dancing around each other for months. Her body went from zero to hot and bothered in about six seconds. Allyson could fall fast for Zeke, but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to leap head first into a new relationship since her last one had crashed and burned, the latest in a string of failed relationships. “Wait a second. You’ve been back for almost a year, and you haven’t seen him?”
“No.” Dani’s cheeks turned red. “I’ve been avoiding him.”
“Why?” That wasn’t like her friend.
“It’s complicated.” Dani pulled into the almost full parking lot. “Wow, looks like there’s a lot of people here.”
“It’s their grand opening?”
“Kind of.” Dani found a spot and parked.
“What do you mean?” Her friend was holding something back.
“It was by invitation only.”
“So I’m crashing?”
“No.” Dani answered. “I’m allowed to bring someone one. You’re my plus one.”
Allyson blew out a breath. “Okay. Why didn’t you just RSVP in the negative?”
“Because I was expected to attend.” Dani waved her hands in the air. “Again, it’s complicated.” Dani blew out a breath. “Look, if you’d rather not come inside, I get it.”
“No, it’s not that.” It wasn’t. She’d support Dani in any way she needed. “I’m just wondering why you’re being so secretive about it?”
“I don’t mean to be, but I did some landscaping work for Damon at his home. So he invited me, and I feel obligated to go.”
“And your ex-college lover is going to be here?”
“Yep.” Dani dropped her forehead to the steering wheel. “This was a bad idea.”
“It’s okay.” Allyson put her hand on Dani’s shoulder. “We go in, we mingle, and after an hour, we leave.”
“Thank you.” They got out of the car.
Allyson wasn’t sure what she expected, but the storefront was tastefully decorated with balloons and steamers. She walked in behind Dani.