Ethan looked around and couldn’t see any evidence of pet beds at all, but since he was here, he thought he’d ask.
“Only what you see, pal,” remarked the older man.
Ethan’s gaze slid to Lily’s coloring face. The pet bed would have to wait for the time being.
“What size collar do you need?” His irritating northern lilt washed over Ethan, but he ignored the tone.
Nothing was going to ruin this moment.
Ethan eyed Lily’s neck, his gaze lingering until she panted. “Do you have anything suitable for a medium-sized dog?” he asked without even glancing back to the assistant.
“What breed?” huffed the older man. “Spaniel?”
That made Ethan’s lips curl. “Maybe a little bigger,” he replied, winking at his little flower. “Slightly larger than a spaniel.”
The man sauntered out from behind the counter and gestured toward a selection of leather collars on the left. “Something like this?” he suggested, pulling one from the rack and holding it aloft for Ethan to see.
Ethan shifted in his direction, inspecting the collar. “Do you have anything softer?”
The assistant threw him a skeptical glance. “You don’t want to go too soft,” he warned. “Your dog needs to learn his place.”
“Her place,” Ethan corrected him.
The older guy blinked at him. “Okay, her place.”
“Agreed,” said Ethan with a smile. His cock was rousing at all this talk of pet play, and he imagined how wet Lily’s pussy was likely to be. “But, I don’t want to hurt her.”
He reached for the collar in the man’s hands, rubbing his fingers over the unrelenting leather.
“What about this one?” The older guy pointed toward another row of collars nearer the floor.
Ethan turned to Lily. “What do you think of this one, darling?”
Her eyes widened as he referred to her directly, and slowly, she walked to join them. “I’m not sure.” Lily’s imploring gaze flitted to Ethan’s.
“Take a look,” Ethan insisted as he gestured to the selection the assistant meant. “We want to make sure it’s right for our little doggie, don’t we?”
Lily gulped as she leaned her body toward the collars. Ethan watched as she reached out for one with a shaky hand.
“Show me.”
His tone was commanding now, and her attention was back on him in a heartbeat. It was as though the guy from the shop had vanished altogether.
Slowly, she pulled one of the collars from its place and handed it to Ethan. He took it from her, ensuring their fingers grazed as the leather was passed from one hand to the other. This collar was much softer than the first, but looked easily large enough to fit comfortably.
“Perfect,” he mused, offering Lily his hand to help her up as he spoke directly to the assistant again. “And the leashes.”
“Just behind you,” the old man muttered as he wandered back to his counter. “Choose what you like and I’ll price them up for you.”
Ethan squeezed Lily’s hand as she came to stand beside him again.
This was going to be fabulous.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Ethan
She hung the new outfits in the wardrobe, glancing back to catch Ethan’s eye every now and again.
“Did you enjoy our shopping trip?
They’d been back for about half an hour and already Ethan sensed the sexual tension in the suite. It was visceral.
“I can’t believe you did that to me in the pet supplies store, sir.”
Lily’s voice was breathy as she closed the wooden door to address him.
Ethan smiled at her response. “You enjoyed it,” he said in an accusing tone. “And don’t even think about lying to me about that because I can check for myself, can’t I, Mrs. Reilly?”
Lily flustered. “Still using that name, sir?”
“Answer the question.” Ethan rose from the bed, the deed alone enough to widen Lily’s gaze.
“Yes, sir.” Her gaze flitted to her shoes for a moment. “Yes, you can check.”
Two long strides closed the distance between them, and Ethan’s thumb and index finger hooked under Lily’s chin. “And don’t you forget it,” he reminded her in a hard tone.
She gulped, nodding her head. “Sir?”
Lily’s plaintive tone permeated through his hot arousal.
“What is it, little one?”
“Can I call my parents again soon? Please?” Her eyes fluttered closed at the question, and one sweep of her thoughts told him how much the subject pained her.
“Soon,” he promised, leaning closer toward her face. “I promise.”
“They’ll be worried sick…” Lily’s voice trailed away, her voice catching on the emotion that threatened to bubble.
Ethan inhaled. No doubt they were. If he was in their shoes Ethan was sure he’d be the same. “I know it’s hard,” he told her, lowering his fingers and drawing her into an embrace. “But this future is about us, little one. You and me, and that means leaving some other people behind. For the time being.”
Wide, teary eyes blinked at him. “I know,” she whispered. “It’s just more difficult than I imagined.”
Ethan’s hand stroked down the silky length of her dark hair. As it reached her nape, he grasped a fistful of her locks and drew her head backwards. Lily winced at the sudden hurt, her chest tightening with the unexpected pain.
“There will be many challenges in our future,” he assured her in a somber tone. “But I know we can get through them all if we focus on what’s important.”
“You?”
Lily’s voice was a raspy little whisper.
Ethan shook his head in reply. “Us.”
His lips crashed against her mouth before she even had time to respond. Ethan knew what he wanted next, and he couldn’t wait to get bloody started.
“Sir?” Lily gasped as his lips drew away.
Had she been reading his thoughts? If the answer was yes, then Lily would already know what he had in mind.
“I want to try out our new toys.”
She blanched at his verdict. “The collar?”
Ethan grinned at how tiny her voice became as she sought his clarification. “Yes, the collar,” he confirmed. “And the leash. I want them on you, and nothing else.”
“But, sir?”
Lily looked frantic now that the moment had arrived to try out the items.
Don’t worry, he told her in his mind. You’ll enjoy this, Lily. We both know you will.
She was trembling as she nodded.
“And you know I won’t do anything to hurt you.”
She was the only one he had ever shown any self-restraint around. The only one powerful enough to stem his darkness.
“Strip for me now and then kneel by the bed.” Ethan sat on the edge of the covers. “It’s time to play.”
Her thoughts scattered as he gave the order, but Ethan watched her comply nonetheless, sliding the dirty blouse and skirt from her body, before she removed her underwear. It had been fun shopping for his little one. Ethan had never indulged in anything like that before, and he’d enjoyed watching the way her face had lit up when she’d paraded in the new outfits for him, but right now, Ethan only wanted to see one thing. Lily’s wonderful naked body.
She edged toward the place he was sitting, wringing her hands out in front of her. When Lily reached his feet, she took a deep breath before she slowly went to her knees. Ethan smiled. Her submission was sublime.
“Now, where is that bag of supplies?”
Ethan’s tone was knowing, and his cock leapt at the way her gaze widened.
“I think you left it by the door, sir.”
He nodded. “By the door. That’s right.”
There was a pause and his lips curled as he gave the next command. “Be a dear, Mrs. Reilly, and retrieve it for me.”
Lily
Her heart pounded as his words resonated. Hadn’t he just asked her to kneel
down here, and now he wanted the paper bag of supplies? With a sigh, Lily prepared to climb back to her feet.
“No.”
The sternness of his tone made her heart race even faster.
“Sir?”
“Not like that. Not on your feet. You don’t use your feet when we play now. Since you’re to be my little pet, it’s time you started to move like one, and how do pets move, Lily?”
The question hung between them and for a moment, Lily couldn’t seem to pull in any air.
“Lily.”
There was that hard tone again, and her sex clenched at the timbre.
He wanted her to say it? He actually wanted her to say the words out loud?
“Yes.” Ethan’s face broke into a huge smile. “Yes, I want you say it. Now, please.”
She exhaled, her head heavy with the weight of his expectations.
“Do I need to reintroduce you to my belt again, I wonder?”
That made her jump as memories of the wretched thing flooded her mind.
“I’m sorry,” she panted.
“And?”
“And they move on four legs,” she replied, lowering her gaze as she took in what that actually meant.
“Right,” he cooed approvingly. “But since you don’t have four, we’ll stick to your hands and knees, Lily.”
She lifted her chin to find his large blue eyes sparkling at her. “You want me to crawl and get it for you?”
Somehow, saying the words out loud was even more excruciating. This was ridiculous. She was already naked on the floor at his feet, and now he wanted her to denigrate herself further.
Yes. His silent answer reverberated through Lily’s mind. Yes, I will denigrate you, and yes, you will bloody enjoy it.
Lily inhaled, mortified as a rush of fresh heat spread to her face.
“Touch yourself, Lily,” he instructed from his place on the bed.
Her gaze flitted north.
Do it.
Balancing on her knees, Lily swept one hand between her legs, delving past the soft hair to her pussy. It was wet—as it always was these days—absolutely dripping with her potent arousal.
“Nice and wet for me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Show me.”
Lily’s breath caught at that and her nipples hardened as their gazes met again.
“Show. Me.”
Mesmerized by the intensity in his eyes, her fingers rose from her sex, and Lily lifted them toward Ethan. He leaned forward, inspecting the clear evidence of her excitement for a moment before his mouth closed around the fingers, and he sucked them clean.
Oh fuck.
Lily’s eyes fluttered closed for a moment at the sensation.
“Fucking beautiful,” he purred appreciatively. “Now, get on your hands and knees and retrieve that parcel for me. We’ll see how wet you are after some simple training.”
Lily panted as she turned toward the brown bag waiting at the door, and slowly she forced herself forward, crawling in its direction.
Fuck.
Ethan’s thoughts penetrated her own shameful arousal, but Lily continued her agonizing journey, making her way on her hands and knees. Once she arrived at the bag, she halted, suddenly unsure.
“How do pets carry things?” Ethan’s voice was like a soft purr, goading her to new depths.
“In their mouths, sir.” It was easier to reply now that she had her back to him, although Lily was more than aware of the humiliating view Ethan would be enjoying while she waited there.
“Right.” She could practically hear the glee in his voice. “So, do it.”
Lily nearly choked at that, glancing back over her shoulder as though she couldn’t believe Ethan had the audacity. But Ethan had the audacity alright, for this and much worse. And Lily knew it better than most.
Now.
The intensity of the thought made her move, and Lily lowered her head toward the bag. She didn’t think as her lips parted, and she didn’t think as she angled her body to retrieve the bag, but when her mouth closed around the paper, the reality of what she was doing landed upon her, and her body stilled.
Lily.
She didn’t answer him—she couldn’t anyhow with a paper bag shoved between her teeth—but she heard him.
Pick it up and come to me. Ethan’s thoughts were taunting. Make me proud.
Lily’s emotions surged as she lifted her chin, taking the weight of the collar and chain with her jaw. Her face was flaming and she felt on the brink of tears, but somehow, her limbs were moving again, and she shuffled back toward Ethan’s legs.
Her master’s legs.
She blinked those thoughts away, refusing to meet Ethan’s eye, but the tone of his voice suggested he had heard her anyway.
“That’s right, beautiful,” he purred. “Bring it here and offer it to me.”
Lily made it to his feet. Somehow. And with one last, concerted effort, she lifted the bag in her mouth in his direction. Ethan grinned as he took the package from her with one of his large palms, and her eyes closed as the other came to stroke her hair gently.
Petting her.
She gulped at the analogy, but Lily knew it was true. He was petting her.
“Very good.”
A bubble of contentment grew at the sound of his praise, and Lily shook her head, as though she couldn’t understand it. And she couldn’t. It wasn’t understandable.
How could she reconcile the way she was demeaning herself for him, or worse, the way it was making her hot, wet and needy.
“And are you?” Ethan’s tone was inquiring.
“Sir?” Her voice was croaky and swallowed down the revolting taste of the brown paper.
“Wet and needy?”
Lily sighed.
“Check for me,” he ordered. “Like before.”
She was drenched with desire, and she didn’t need to slip her fingers between her wet pussy lips to clarify, but her fingers glided down to her seam regardless, putting on the show Ethan wanted.
“And?”
Lily raised her gaze to meet his eyes. “I’m absolutely soaked, sir,” she admitted, and for the first time, she felt no shame in the admission.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Ethan
Lily looked absolutely scintillating on the floor beside him, and he hadn’t even gotten the collar and leash out of the bag yet. Watching her carry the bag back in her mouth rated as one of the hottest experiences of his life—better than any of the dark acts he’d committed— and as she admitted how horny it had made her, Ethan’s cock ached with need.
“Let’s get you dressed, little one.”
Ethan’s passion was evident in his voice, but that hardly mattered. Lily knew how much this turned him on—of course she did. She could read his thoughts, too, these days, and even if she wasn’t tuned in, he had been the one who’d suggested the equipment anyway.
This was Ethan’s fantasy.
Opening the bag, he pulled the new collar from the paper. Ethan flexed the leather in his hands, watching as Lily panted before him.
“Kneel up.”
He met her eyes as he gave the command, and watched with satisfaction as she obeyed wordlessly.
“I’m going to need you to move your hair out of the way, beautiful,” he told her. “We don’t want the strands getting caught in the buckle.”
Lily inhaled, splaying her ribs and pushing her tight little nipples out toward him. He smiled at the look of her. So young, so hot and all his. Slowly, she raised her arms, capturing her dark mane in one hand and holding it aloft for him. With a nod, Ethan slid across the bed, and a moment later he wrapped the band of leather around her throat. Being this close to Lily’s throat was intoxicating in its own right. Ethan had always had a fetish for that part of a woman, but as he slid the collar into place and fastened the buckle, he didn’t want to choke the air out of her. In fact, quite the opposite. Ethan wanted to make her breathe harder and faster. He wanted her to pant; to beg; to
scream.
And now, here she was—he couldn’t believe his luck.
Or maybe it wasn’t luck, at all?
Ethan had a history of getting what he wanted—of taking what he wanted.
“Sir.”
His cock tented in his pants at her raspy tone. “Nearly done,” he assured her, sliding the final fastening into place. “How’s that?”
Ethan sat back, glowing with pride at the image of the Lily that knelt beside him. Her eyes closed again as she absorbed the sensation of the leather.
“Too tight?” He swept a finger inside the collar, ensuring she had room to breathe.
“It’s fine.” Lily’s gaze blinked open, and she stared at him.
Are we really doing this?
Ethan smiled. “Fuck yes. We’re doing this, and we’re both going to love every moment.”
She swallowed, lowering her arms as she nodded. “Yes, sir.”
He reached for the paper bag again, this time pulling out the leash he’d selected. Ethan had wanted this for so long—a woman he could subjugate on a permanent basis—yet he’d never allowed his desire to surface. What would have been the point? He was nothing but a callous killer. He didn’t keep women, he used them. Until Lily. And now he was at the precipice of something even more dangerous. He was actually falling for her.
He loved her.
Lily’s attention flew to his. “You already told me you loved me.”
Her tone was surprisingly accusing considering she was the one naked on her knees.
“I did,” he confessed, reaching for the soft strands of her hair. “I do, Lily, but with everything that has happened since then, I haven’t had much time to dwell on the emotion.”
But this was that time. A chance to really show her how he felt, in a way only Ethan Reilly could.
Lily sighed. “I love you, too.” It’s the only reason I’m here.
He grinned at her honest appraisal. “I know.”
For a moment they just gazed at one another. His blue eyes meeting her gorgeous green gaze as that understanding settled between them. And then, Ethan grasped the metal leash in his other hand, his brain switching back to the denigration he craved.
“Let’s get this in place.”
Fallen: (A Psychological Dark Romance) (The Dark Necessities Prequels Book 2) Page 15