Her cheeks were bright red, and a few tears fell from her eyes. Her body responded to the humiliation, but her submissive side responded to the punishment. She didn’t like this, not the part where she was being chastised.
“You were a bad pet to do this.” He pointed at the broken bolt. He bent down and pulled the blanket from inside the cage and draped it over the edge. “You’re going to take a hard fucking because of this.”
She nodded, probably thinking she was getting off easy.
He pulled on her bit until she was up and over the crate, her ass high in the air. Leaving her in place, he went back to his cabinet and came back with the reins.
“Now, let’s learn this lesson once and for all. Who holds the reins here? Me or you?” He showed her the leather straps he held in his hands.
She whined, but given the placement of the bit and the sorry state of her voice, it sounded very much like a pony cry.
“Tap your right foot once if you’re holding the reins, or twice if it’s me.” He placed his open hand on her back, holding her steady and looked at her bare feet.
Another low growl escaped her, but her foot rose, and she tapped the floor twice.
“Good girl.” He stroked her back. He wished he’d brought in some treats for her. But until he’d come in the room he hadn’t known the extent of her naughtiness.
He hooked the reins onto the bit and dropped them down her back. A tremble ran through her when he unbuckled his belt and unzipped his jeans.
Pulling his cock out, he stroked himself, enjoying the view before him. She looked over her shoulder at him, those beautiful tears were still there, but behind them a deep-seated arousal. One that would be unfed this time.
He picked up the reins, wrapping the ends around his fists until they were the right length. He could pull her head back and turn her one way or the other with a flick of his wrist.
“If you’d been a good girl before, you’d get to come like this, but you were naughty and naughty girls don’t get orgasms. They take the fucking, they take the punishment plug, but they get nothing. Do you understand? One tap for yes, two for no.” He maneuvered his body so he could give her room.
One tap.
“Good.” He lined up his cock with her wet entrance. Pulling back on the reins until her head came back and she was staring up at the ceiling, he plowed into her.
She cried out when he plunged forward a second time. The plug made her pussy even tighter, and hot, so fucking hot. And he knew his fucking her made the plug tighter in her ass. The ginger oil continued to work, and each thrust brought more of a burn to her ass.
Her fingers curled around the bars of the crate, but she didn’t fight him when he tugged on the right rein, making her turn her head slightly.
“You want to come so bad, don’t you? Even with your asshole on fire from the ginger, your pussy is sucking me in, clenching hard.” He could feel his balls tightening already.
“Take your fucking, take it hard.” He plowed forward, moving the crate an inch or two with the force, but he didn’t stop. He held onto her reins and rode her until his cock couldn’t stand the pleasure anymore.
“Fuck!” he yelled out and let loose inside of her. Holding onto the leather straps, he fell forward. She grunted, probably from the pressure his body put on the tail.
Letting go of the straps, he pulled free of her body. “Come down here.” He helped her back over the crate and to the floor where she positioned herself on all fours again.
Tucking his cock back in his pants, he squatted in front of her, staring into her eyes. For a moment he feared seeing repulsion and anger. He’d used her body for his own gain without giving her any pleasure. Yes, it was punishment, but she could still hate him for it.
He searched her eyes, through the unshed tears. Unbuckling the bit, he removed the head piece along with the weights and tossed them on top of the crate. She worked her jaw open and closed a few times but made no move to wipe the spit that had gathered on her chin.
He took care of it for her, wiping it away with his hand.
“You did well, Nora,” he whispered and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Do you completely hate me now?” he asked, unable to stop himself.
“No,” she whispered. “I’m sorry I’ve been such a pain in the ass.”
He cradled her face in his hands. “You really need to work on your word choice.” He laughed and caught a tear with his thumb. “It’s forgiven and forgotten.” He kissed each cheek and then claimed her mouth for his own.
She pressed her hands to his chest, gripping his shirt and holding him in place. He let her take control when her tongue swept into his mouth. He was as much hers and she was his in this moment, and for those to come.
When he broke the kiss, a soft blush kissed her cheeks.
“Let’s get the tail out and you can lie down if you’re tired.” He sat down the floor and dragged her to lie over his lap.
He removed the plug, tossed it to join the bit, and eased her off him.
“Will you lie with me?” she asked once he had her in the bedroom.
He climbed into bed with her, kicking his boots off and pulling her close.
They would have to face some nasty shit coming their way. And it would take both of them to figure out the best way out.
But for that moment, he held her, wrapping his body around hers and letting the warmth of her soothe away all the worry, all the questions from his mind.
He had her.
At least for the moment.
Chapter Eighteen
The humidity finally dropped and allowed a cool breeze to penetrate through the summer heat. Nora sat on the front steps of the cabin staring out into the woods. Leaves rustled, and birds serenaded from the distance, but other than that it was a peaceful moment.
The most peace she’d had in days. Taking a deep breath, she leaned against the porch frame. So much had happened in such a short time, she kept waiting for her mind to catch up to the rest of her.
“Hey.” Greg’s soft voice penetrated the quiet. The door shut behind her and he sank down beside her on the steps. “You okay?” He ran his finger along her jaw, capturing her hair and tucking it neatly behind her ear.
“Yeah. Just sitting,” she said, not looking at him. It was time to call Bernie.
Bernie wouldn’t like she’d gotten Greg involved, or that she hadn’t told him about Greg when she called earlier. He’d probably tell her to lose him. But after her last session in the playroom she didn’t think that would be possible. Or that she even wanted that anymore.
Greg was impossible sometimes. Overbearing and a bit more caveman than she usually went for, but she found herself melting beneath his strength. Not losing her own but finding more about herself than she’d known. It should be humiliating the way he treated her, but she found the deeper he pulled her into those feelings, the more she wrapped herself in them. She’d felt safe, harnessed and used, she’d felt cared for.
Her head was too muddy, too many thoughts and feelings for her to process at one time. He wasn’t the first man to fuck her, to play games with her, but the other times were just that—games. With Greg it wasn’t just a little roleplay to get his rocks off. He owned her.
“You’re thinking too much, I think.” He kicked his lips up in a smile and pulled her to lean against his chest. With his back pressed against the frame, she fit neatly between his thighs.
He smelled good.
This was getting too carried away. As soon as it was over with, she’d be on her own again. The way she liked it. The way she knew how to live.
“We should call Bernie soon.” She decided to keep the conversation focused on the situation. If she were to tell him how messed up her thinking was, how much she enjoyed the things he’d been doing to her, she took too much of a risk of losing herself. And she couldn’t do that, not even for him.
He sighed and rested his chin on the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her body. He’d let her put on
a T-shirt after she woke from a short nap. But she was completely naked underneath. Probably his way of keeping her from trying to run away.
But would she? If she found an opportunity, would she try to get away from him now?
Yes. Keep focused on the situation.
“Okay, we’ll call him back.” He shifted behind her and then presented his phone. “Keep it on speaker,” he instructed.
She took the cell, the weight of it settling in her palm. Bernie would either be pissed as hell or pleased as punch that she’d snagged herself a protector of sorts. Only one way to find out.
Bernie answered on the second ring.
“Elenora?”
“Yeah, Bernie. It’s me.” She winced at the pinch of her hip and glared at Greg over her shoulder. “I have someone with me. His name’s Greg, he’s been helping me. You’re on speaker.”
She heard the low curse and expected him to hang up.
“Greg what?”
“Greg Turner,” Greg answered from over her shoulder.
“Don’t know that name.”
“You have no reason to.” Greg kept his tone flat, but she heard the authority underlying it. She’d become used to it.
“What are you doing with Elenora?”
Apparently, she was out of the conversation now that a man was involved. She rolled her eyes. Women were to be kept safe, and out of the men’s business. She knew that, had grown up being reminded of that by her father, and yet, she had expected Bernie to show her a little more respect.
“I was at the flower shop when everything happened. She’s been with me since. We’re in a safe location.”
At least Greg didn’t take the phone from her. She chose to see that as some sort of consolation.
“She trusts you?”
“Oh, for shit’s sake, Bernie. I’m still here,” she snapped.
Greg pinched her hip again, but she shoved his hand away.
“I do trust him.”
“Okay then. Stay out of the city for another day. I need some time to line things up. You can come back the day after tomorrow.”
“What does that mean exactly?” Greg asked.
“It means I’m getting shit lined up,” Bernie barked through the phone.
Nora sighed. Men and their dick size contests.
“Bernie, why are they pinning this on me? What’s going to happen with the police?” she pressed on.
“I’ll have it all worked out by the time you get home. I’ll meet you at your house, the day after tomorrow, okay, Elenora?” Bernie said.
“My house?”
Bernie rarely left his condo in Milwaukee since he went into retirement. Being in the city made him anxious.
“Yeah. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I have a few meetings lined up and by the time you get home everything should be worked out.”
“I’m not taking her to her house until you call us and tell us it’s safe. How do we know it’s not just a trap?” Greg asked with a hard tone.
Nora tapped his thigh.
“Bernie wouldn’t let me walk into a trap,” she said before Bernie responded.
“No, he’s right. I’ll call you on this number to let you know it’s safe. But don’t head back until the day after tomorrow. If you come back before I have these meetings, you’ll be walking into a mess,” Bernie said with finality.
“Got it. Thanks, Bernie.” Nora leaned back into Greg. He’d take care of it. He’d take care of everything.
“Yeah. We’ll wait for your call.” Greg didn’t sound as confident as Nora felt. Suspicion underlined his words.
“Good. Take care of her. If anything happens to her, I’m holding you responsible.” Bernie’s protective nature had come out.
“So long as she doesn’t go rogue on me, she’ll be just fine,” Greg said.
Bernie laughed. “Yeah, good luck with that. Elenora’s a little—well, too much like her mother in that regard.”
Her mother?
“Talk to you soon.” Bernie clicked off the call before Nora could formulate her question.
“Not sure how much good that did.” Greg snagged the phone back from her.
“What do you mean? Now we know when this will be done with. He’ll take care of it, and we can go home day after tomorrow.” She got to her feet and clapped her hands together. “And then you can be rid of me.” She forced a grin then headed inside. “I’m going to shower.”
Greg let her go. He was probably celebrating how easily it was going to be to get her gone.
They’d have a day to hang out, fuck a little, then he’d ship her off with Bernie and go on his merry way.
She couldn’t blame him. No, she wouldn’t. He’d stepped into this pile of shit on accident, she wouldn’t blame him for wanting to scrape it off and get going.
The shower didn’t wash off her negative thoughts but did leave her muscles feeling much more relaxed. After changing back into the T-shirt he gave her, she brushed her hair.
“I made food,” he called from the kitchen.
Her stomach growled in response. All this man wanted was to fuck and eat. Well, he wanted other things too, things she reminded herself she should be repulsed by.
She followed the aroma of hamburgers into the kitchen.
“Cheeseburgers,” he announced and put two plates on the table fully loaded.
“Are those tater tots?” she asked, taking her seat. She hadn’t had one of those since she was a kid.
“Yeah, I don’t really like fries.” He shrugged and took the chair across from her.
“You could have made a salad,” she said, though she would have picked the tots over the lettuce any day of the week.
“I could have made you strip naked and eat from your bowl,” he said with a raised brow.
“I didn’t mean to sound disrespectful. The tots are awesome.” She realized she’d snapped at him. All he was doing was trying to get some real food into her belly and she’d been bitchy.
“What’s bothering you?” he asked, taking a bite of his burger.
“Nothing.”
He sighed. “I thought we were done with this lying.”
“I’m not lying. I’m just—” She popped a tater tot in her mouth, enjoying the crunch and pop of salty goodness. “I’m sorry is all. That you found yourself all wrapped up in this crap.”
A stretch of silence followed. He reached across the table and took her hand in his.
“I didn’t find myself in anything. I made choices. And I don’t regret any of them.” He gave her hand a squeeze and let go.
She searched his face, looking for the lift of his lips, a hidden sign of laughter, but only found sincerity.
“Not even the decisions to cane me? Hunt me?” She still couldn’t believe these things took place or that, given his mood, could happen again.
“Hell, no.” He shook his head and threw a tater tot in his mouth. “Besides your behavior made those decisions, not me.”
“That’s a good way to deflect responsibility, I suppose,” she smirked.
“Are you trying to tell me you hated it that much?”
She looked away from him. If he couldn’t see into her eyes, he couldn’t see how much exactly she didn’t hate what he’d done.
“I don’t know that much about you. What did you do before you became a knight in shining armor?”
His smile faltered. “I was in the marines for a tour. Spent some time overseas. Didn’t re-enlist.” Very matter-of-fact, and exactly what he’d already told her. He probably didn’t want to talk about it.
“Why not? Didn’t like the food?” She grinned.
“Saw all I needed to see.”
“Well, at least you’re not evasive.” She popped the last bit of her burger in her mouth.
“Nothing to talk about.”
“You still keep in touch with anyone?” she asked when he got up from the table and cleared his plate. His back stiffened at her question.
“No.” He turned on the faucet.
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Nora picked up her plate and brought it to the sink. She’d obviously struck a nerve.
“Let me,” she said, taking his plate from him and hip-bumping him away from the sink. “Just relax.”
He huffed. “You want to play Suzy Homemaker?”
“No. I want to wash the dishes while you sit at the table and stare at my ass through this ridiculously cheap shirt.” She squirted dish soap onto the sponge and let the warm water wash over the plates.
He laughed but moved to take his seat. “I may have bought that one on purpose.”
Of course he did. The material was so thin he could probably see her damn nipples through the front of it.
After she had the plates washed and dried, she leaned with her ass against the counter and stared at him. He’d been ogling her the entire time, and it didn’t bother her in the least.
“You lost friends over there,” she said, taking a slow step toward him. His jaw tensed. His dark eyes avoided hers. “That couldn’t have been easy for you. You’re a protector.”
“Sometimes protection isn’t enough,” he said, reaching for her hips. She put her hands over his.
“Well, if you mean against missiles and bombs and terrorist cells, I think you’re right. Sometimes you can’t protect the people you want to because the evil is just too big. That doesn’t make it your fault.” She framed his face with her hands, feeling the strength in his jaw.
He took on too much responsibility.
“No, it doesn’t,” he agreed. But even when you knew something to be true, it didn’t mean you really believe it. Greg was a good man. A strong, dependable man who saw himself as her protector. Though she suspected he’d been less willing at the beginning.
He’d said he was going to find her a safe place to go. Get someone to take her. He’d been afraid of letting her down, getting her hurt, not being able to protect her.
“Let’s forget about that for now. And about the Santinelli family. And what’s going to happen in a few days.” She leaned down, pressing her lips to his and stepping closer to him.
He growled beneath her kiss and moved his hands to her ass, grabbing her cheeks and squeezing.
Becoming His Pet Page 13