by Dark, Raven
Damn it, why had she let him convince her to wear a skirt instead of letting her change into one when they got home? Cool air licked her skin, the awareness of such an intimate part of her being exposed for him hitting her hard.
His hand roved over the generous globes for an instant. Self-consciousness half formed, then one of his palms came down on one cheek with a crack, just hard enough to sting. Gwen jumped. The burn licked at her pussy and the self-consciousness evaporated.
Archer growled in her ear. “No one makes me wait, Gwen.” Another smack to her other cheek, just as hard. She whimpered.
“Archer…Sir…I’m sorry. I really am. I just lost track of time.”
She gripped the desk. Would he spank her again? Why did part of her want to beg him not to do it again, while the other craved the sting of his palm on her skin?
She heard him take something out of his pocket, making the keys there jingle. Then he dangled something in front of her eyes.
Gwen stared at the small, bullet-shaped anal plug that gleamed silvery in the light. A little larger than a peach pit, it dangled from a short, white rope.
“We’ll start with this. You won’t be able to take my cock this way for a while, so we’ll work our way up. Lean down.”
When she hesitated, he shoved her until her chest was pressed against the desk.
The decisions weren’t hers in this moment. Everything that happened to her was in his hands. It soothed her knowing she could let go and just accept what he did.
Except… Archer’s fingers gently pushed her ass cheeks apart, and something cool touched her back entrance, some sort of cream. His fingers were coated with it and he ran it over her hole. She tensed, trying to straighten.
“Relax,” Archer whispered, his hold on her shoulders firm.
Gwen forced her breathing to calm. He wouldn’t harm her. Still, it was impossible to get used to being so exposed like this.
When his fingers left her, she almost tried to straighten up again until she felt something metal where the lube was. Steel-like. Cold.
The plug. It seemed huge now. His hand on her shoulder lifted and she felt him spreading her.
“Stay like that. Relax as much as you can. Take deep breaths.”
Her brain moved too slow to respond. Everything in her tensed.
“Relax.”
“I’m trying. Sir.”
“Take a deep breath. Let the muscles go.”
Gwen drew in a long, slow breath, concentrating on making her muscles relax. He put the plug against her slicked hole, swirling it lightly around her anus. Little shocks of pleasure zapped through her and Gwen squirmed.
“Keep still. Take another breath.”
She stilled and breathed.
Archer gently pushed the plug against her anus a little harder, then harder still. It filled her with a soft pop.
Fierce shocks of pleasure-pain bolted through her from her anus all the way to her pussy, and Gwen whimpered, fighting back a cry.
“It’s done.” Archer stroked her hair, bending over her so that his breath fanned her face. “Good girl.”
One of his fingers hooked into the string attached to the plug. He began tugging a little. The smallest pulls sent frissons of pleasure-pain zipping through her anal passage.
Gwen winced while squirming against him.
“Oh, god. That…it’s too much.” She couldn’t work out whether to tell him to pull harder or stop. Now she understood why this was a punishment, even while it felt incredible.
“Do you need a safeword, Gwen?” He stopped, running his fingers through the slick folds of her pussy, building the ache there.
“No. But it’s just so…”
His fingers slid slowly into her heat. His strokes shifted the position of the plug, reawakening all the nerves there and sending them screaming to life. Gwen’s mouth opened on a silent scream.
“Like it?” A soft, wicked whisper in her ear.
Something about the smugness in his voice made her feel petulant. “No…” She hated the sullen sound of that.
Every movement of his fingers sent a cocktail of pleasure and pain through her anus, while increasing the ache in her core. Thighs quivering, knees weak, Gwen grasped the other end of the desk, clawing at it.
“I asked you a question. Do you like what I’m doing to you?”
Yes. No. He continued building her higher. She tried to rear up. He pushed her shoulder down, easily pinning her to the desk.
“Tell me you like it, sweet thing.”
She sniffed. “I like it, Sir.”
“Good girl, I think you’re ready now.” His voice was gruff. She heard his fly unzip, his belt being worked open.
Gwen tried to push up.
“Stay still. You want me to spank you again?”
Oh, god, she couldn’t handle something that intense now. “No!” If he spanked her, especially hard, she might explode at the seams.
“Then fuckin’ stay still.”
Jesus, he sounded so rough, so dark, like some hellish badass that meant to take her no matter what she did to stop him. Gwen almost came.
Archer slid slowly into her core. The heat of him electrified her while his cock worked against the plug, shocking every nerve.
“Fuck, you feel good, Gwen. See? Was this so hard?”
She tried to protest, but only a helpless groan came out. He rumbled his pleasure and thrust faster, firm, needy strokes.
He promised to go easy. If not for that…
“Damn, Gwen. You might not want to break one of my rules again. I like this a little too much.”
“Archer…Sir…please…” The sensations were too much, spiraling her higher and higher. Then she was beyond the point of caring if he knew she liked it. She groaned and ground into him until he stilled her.
“Stop that. You come when I say.”
She whimpered. Desperate to stop him, desperate for more.
His hand seized her hips, fingers digging in. He didn’t thrust hard, but she could feel his control straining, his thrusts growing more urgent.
“Archer, fuck.” She rocked into him.
“Come.”
Gwen came apart, crying out, trying to fuck him harder, pleasure and pain tearing into her. Archer’s hips snapped forward, delivering another handful of thrusts, and he growled his release, shuddering against her.
Gwen panted, her chest expanding against the desk. Archer slipped out of her, quickly putting her back together.
“Wait… Aren’t you going to take it out?”
He dropped a kiss on her neck, pinching her ass. “Nope. Punishment, Gwen. You’ll be fine with it in for a little while longer until we get home.”
She sighed, but suppressed a smile while her cheeks heated. Even shifting her balance a little caused the plug to shift with her, shocking the nerves inside to new life and creating a low ache in her core.
“You’re evil, Sir.”
He chuckled. She heard him do up his pants before he lifted her into his powerful arms.
Gwen buried her face in his neck. Grateful for his embrace and warmth. He carried her to the couch and pulled her into his lap. She couldn’t have walked now if she tried, especially not with the not entirely unpleasant pressure the plug created in her backside. Every move made it impossible to forget that it was there.
Pulling her close, Archer rubbed his smooth cheek against hers. Her skirt and underwear chafed against her ass cheeks, still burning from his hand. The reminder of his ownership made her belly heat up all over again.
“Hate me now?”
The hint of worry in his voice surprised her. “Never.” She lifted her head. “Am I twisted if I liked it a little? The way you owned me?”
Archer smirked. “Nope.”
“Will you do it again if I mess up?” She didn’t know if she hoped he’d say no or yes.
“Yes. And it’ll be worse the bigger you mess up.”
If this showed her anything, it affirmed what she’d real
ized during the ravishment scene. Archer had a dark side, and she hadn’t seen the deepest part of it yet.
Gwen closed her eyes and snuggled closer to him.
Archer’s phone jangled the silence and she jumped. The sensations in her back end had died to a barely there prickling, but the sudden clenching of her muscles intensified it and she gave a small hiss.
Gripping her tight around the waist as if to reassure her, he cursed and pulled the phone from his pocket.
“Yeah.”
Someone spoke on the other end. Archer’s eyes widened.
“Hang on, Quinn, Gwen should hear this. Let me put you on speaker.” He pressed a button and held the phone so both could hear clearly.
“Thought you’d want to know.” She swore Lassiter was smiling. “We caught the guy.”
Gwen jerked up. “What? Are you sure?”
“Yes. He’s in a cell in Kranton.”
“Kranton? Why there?” A tiny town two hours from Haven, Kranton was hardly the place for a stalker to be when his target was here.
“We don’t know, but it’s him.”
She grinned up at Archer, a big breath going out of her. Archer smiled and squeezed her close.
“Quinn, how’d you do it? How’d you get him?”
“There was a guy in Haven we investigated for drug dealing. We got inside his house. Didn’t find any drugs, but there were pictures of Miss Stanton. Dozens of them, all over his apartment. I got him running into Kranton evading arrest. We brought him in and he confessed.
Gwen stared at the phone. Relief swept through her. Still, something wouldn’t let all the anxiety leave her.
“That’s fantastic, Quinn,” Archer said. “Way to go.”
“Yes, thank you, Agent Lassiter.” She forced a smile for Archer. It’s too easy.
“No problem. We’ll send your computer and your phone back to you in a few days, Miss Stanton. I can’t wait to get this guy in prison. He’s a real piece of work.”
“I bet. Thanks, Quinn.”
“Yeah, stay safe, Master Archer, and take care of your woman.”
When Lassiter hung up, Archer drew her to him in a warm, tight embrace. She forced another smile onto her lips.
The tightness in her gut didn’t loosen.
* * *
“You ready?”
A week later, Gwen stood in front of the mirror. She pushed out a breath, shoved a loose auburn curl behind her ear, and nodded.
“Yes, Sir.” Why was she so nervous? It was a karate tournament, but it wasn’t like she’d be competing, and her family wouldn’t be there.
As the week passed after Lassiter’s call, she’d finally begun to relax. The agent had been right, they’d caught her stalker. Anxiety slowly gave way to a sense of freedom, as if she’d been released from a tether.
No, her worry tonight had nothing to do with that creep. Part of her felt a thrill of pride, knowing she’d be on Archer’s arm. Another part…
Archer turned her gently to face him. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, I just hate parties, Sir.”
“Why?”
She shrugged, twisting her hands. His lips quirked, and she put her hands behind her. “Because, I never know what to say. I’m the girl that stands in the back of the room hoping no one asks me anything and I don’t embarrass anyone.” She flushed at the openly hungry look in his eyes. “What?”
“You’re so hot. I could take you right now.” He ran his hand around her back, pressing her slowly to him. Hot breath fanned her neck when he leaned in.
Wow. Zoe had been right about this slinky black dress. It laced up the back and flared loose and high on the hips. This was far from the dowdy, reserved clothes she usually wore.
“Isn’t this a little fancy for a tournament?” She gestured at her dress.
“Normally, yes. You wouldn’t want to sit all day in the same clothes you’d wear to the party after. But we’re only staying for a couple of hours, long enough for me to compete.”
“Ah.”
“It’s the party after that’s important. I have to make an appearance. There’s going to be a lot of well-known sensies and schools there.” He leaned in, nibbling on her ear.
“Sir, we only have a few minutes before we have to go.” She couldn’t help putting her head to the side though, when his lips left a fiery trail along her neck.
“I know. I almost want to skip the tournament and spend the night inside you. But I can’t.” He drew back. “Think of it as confidence training.”
She groaned and he laughed softly.
“I promise, we’ll only stay as long as we have to. Okay?”
“All right, let’s go, Sir.”
She hated gatherings like this. Still, a big part of her wanted to see him win the competition. Odd, since not so long ago, the idea of men beating each other for sport would have repelled her.
“Good.” Archer stopped at the door and Gwen grabbed her purse. She quickly set the alarm, then stepped out into the night.
He held her hand with a smile. The reassurance in it made it so much easier to face the discomfort and doubts that lay ahead. God, he was beautiful. And he was hers.
I have to tell my family soon. A man like him doesn’t deserve a woman who’s afraid of anyone seeing her with him. Even if it’s Ace.
* * *
The tournament was almost a two hour drive from Haven, always held in a stadium in New York City. Archer pulled into the lot just before five, but it was already dark. Cars lined every parking area in the lot, and competitors of every belt level hurried with their guests to and from the stadium. A lot of those leaving looked like younger kids, those who’d come to compete earlier in the day. Families entered the stadium, some competitors already dressed in their gis. It surprised her, the rush of nervous, determined energy that surrounded her.
“This is amazing.” Gwen followed Archer as he grabbed his duffle bag with his weapons and gi from the trunk. “I’ve never wanted to come to one of these with Ace, but now I wish I had.”
Archer grinned. “Wait ‘til the competition starts.”
Dressed in a red silk shirt and black slacks fitted perfectly to his powerful frame, he slung the huge bag onto his shoulder. God, he looked so good in silk.
“Oh, one more thing.” He seized her chin in one hand and his head swooped in, mouth taking hers in a long, hot, hard kiss. Gwen whimpered. A cross between surprised delight and embarrassed anxiety coiled her muscles. His tongue swiped in, swirling hers, possessive.
A couple of kids around them made disgusted sounds, and she heard women whispering, giggling. When Archer drew back, she stared at him.
“What was that for?”
“I felt like it.” He ran one finger along the bare line of her throat, then leaned in, keeping his voice low, probably for the sake of any kids. “I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
His smirk melted her into a puddle. “Let’s go, sweetheart.”
She sighed, but followed him across the lot. New worries nibbled at her. Parties, Christ.
Archer must have picked up on her anxiety, because he massaged the back of her nape. “You’ll be fine. Promise.”
Inside they stopped for Archer to quickly change into his gi. He came out of the locker room, tying his black belt about his waist. As usual, he looked incredible. Powerful, deadly in all black.
“What?” He quirked a brow at her stare.
She reddened. “Sexy.”
He laughed softly and kissed her hand.
Archer stopped and surveyed the arena. Tension stiffened his frame.
“Are…are you nervous?” She could hardly believe a man as confident as him could be anxious.
“That obvious, huh?” He walked her toward one of the three huge rings where either fights or katas would be carried out for the spectators. He shrugged. “I’m always a little on edge when I compete.”
“Why?”
“No idea.” His gaze zeroed in on a group of black-clad comp
etitors, all with black belts like him. “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet.”
He led her through the crowd of competitors toward two large men, one blond, the other dark haired like Archer.
Nervousness pulled at her. “Who?”
He smiled at her, pride in his eyes. “My teacher.”
A certain rush flooded her. His sensei. The man who taught someone like Archer had to be incredible.
As they drew closer to the men, a familiar deep, arrogant laugh rang out. Gwen froze. It couldn’t be….
Archer didn’t seem to notice her alarm, and tugged her closer to the men. A tall, auburn-haired man near them turned and looked at them.
“Archer, you’re here.” A huge brotherly smile flashed with white teeth.
The blood drained from Gwen’s face. Ace!
21
Nasty
The moment she saw her brother, ice cold panic raced through her. He was looking right at Archer, but did he see Gwen, following a few steps behind in the crowd?
He’s spoken to Archer, and showed no surprise or confusion. He hadn’t seen her. If he knew they were there as a couple, she could imagine what would happen. He wouldn’t hesitate to rip into her. He’d do it in public, without a care for either one’s pride.
He wouldn’t say a word to his sensei in public, no, but he’d make short work of her.
No. she couldn’t embarrass Archer by making a scene like that. Gwen swallowed and backed slowly up into the thickening crowd gathering behind her. When she was far enough away, she turned and hurried across the stadium for a seat as distant from the ring as she could get.
Once she found a seat, she looked out at the ring. Archer kept turning around and scanning the crowd. Looking for her.
Gwen swallowed. He didn’t realize she’d left him on purpose. That she’d run. Again. The one thing they’d both promised they’d never do.
Tightness built in her chest. She’d have to stay here for the rest of the competition. There was no way to explain her presence to Ace.