by Kay Manis
“Oh, please, Hindley. Every guy on the tour, and half the men in the grand stands, were staring at your ass during the entire competition.”
I smiled at his revelation but still didn’t believe him.
“It’s true,” he said, turning me to face him. “I damn near got disqualified.”
“How?”
“I was about to beat the shit out of every asshole ogling you.”
I smiled, knowing it wasn’t good to feed this jealous beast, but loving it just the same.
He gripped my shoulders, massaging them. “And the worst part of the whole damn thing was, I couldn’t even tell them to stop, tell them you were mine.”
My smile grew wider.
“I couldn’t swing my arm over your shoulder and pull you close to me, show them you were already being taken care of, in every way possible.” His eyes narrowed as his hands moved up to my neck. “It was pure hell.”
“Really?” I bit my lip to keep from giggling.
“Yes, really,” he growled. “I was in a shitty mood the entire tournament.”
“Was that why Jack was so mad last night?”
“Yeah, mostly.”
“Do I want to know the rest of why?”
“He knows we’re together.”
I jumped back from his hold. “Rory! How could you?”
He scrubbed a hand through his hair. “I didn’t tell him. Kara did.”
“How does she know?”
“Kara and I are…kindred spirits. She knew from my actions that I’d found someone special. She had no idea you were my attorney. Well, not until I told her.”
I didn’t know whether to be pissed or flattered. “When?” I asked.
Rory’s eyes met mine. “When what?”
“When did you tell Kara?”
“I didn’t tell her, Hindley. I didn’t have to, she just…knew.”
“Okay, when did she know?”
His head dropped and he stared down at his feet. “That night after I hurt you.”
Hurt me?
“What are you talking about?” I asked.
He slowly lifted his head, his blue eyes darker, his fists clenched by his sides.
Oh, no, he was talking about the night I hit my hand—the night I thought he was rejecting me.
“Oh, yeah,” I said softly, “that night.”
He walked to the window, staring out at the ocean.
I hated that he still carried around the guilt of that night.
I stepped up behind him and wrapped my arms around his waist, pressing my body into his. I placed kisses along his back, trying to take away his pain. Flattening my palms against his rock-hard abs, I moved them in slow, soothing circles, willing away the ache of his dark thoughts.
I felt him draw in a deep breath before turning to face me. His hands slid up my arms and over my shoulders until he cradled my face. I gave thanks that his eyes were lighter now, full of hope and promise. The darkness had passed. For now.
“Trust me?” he said in a low voice that had my insides melting.
His wicked smile should have worried me, but it didn’t. I drew in a deep breath and nodded.
“Good girl,” he whispered, planting a chaste kiss on my forehead. He scooted past me toward his chest of drawers.
I watched as he pulled out what looked like straps from a drawer. Each had metal clip hooks, like carabiners that rock climbers used.
From another drawer, he lifted a thin string of pink rubbery rope. He worked skillfully; he attached the two pieces together then walked toward the bed and laid them on the floor. Yanking the comforter from the mattress in one fell swoop, he laid it gracefully on the floor. Then he removed all the pillows and top sheet, leaving the mattress bare except for the fitted linen.
Oh, God. What was he about to do?
Rory crawled across the bed like a mountain lion, carrying the straps with him. His body was sleek and toned, every part of him gorgeous. I hugged myself knowing he was all mine.
He braced himself with one hand, then stuck the other between the headboard and mattress, reaching underneath for something. The sound of metal snapping against metal echoed through the room.
Oh. My. God.
He sat back on his heels and yanked on the strap, ensuring it was secure before moving across the bed and repeating the process with the other strap.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. He’s a dominant. And I was about to be Fifty Shades of Grayed.
A myriad of emotions raced through my head. I practiced my deep breathing exercises, trying to stave off a full-blown anxiety attack. How did I feel about being a submissive? Would I run if he tried to tie me up? What if he hit me?
Rory sat in the middle of the bed, his luscious lips curled in a devilish grin. “Come here, Hindley.”
I barely heard him above the thunderous beating of my heart.
He held out his hand, and like Eve, I was drawn to him on some metaphysical level.
I wanted to be brave. For Rory. For me. I just had to be sure of one thing.
“You’re not going to hit me, are you?” I asked.
He remained silent.
“I don’t want you to hit me,” I whispered.
“I don’t hit women, Hindley,” he said as if offended.
“Do you,” God, I didn’t know the lingo, “do you spank them?”
“Why?” He raised a brow. “Do you want me to spank you?” His eyes twinkled with laughter.
And just like that, my Skater Boy was back.
“Not particularly,” I said.
“I might spank you, but not as punishment. This isn’t Fifty Shades of Grey shit. I’m not gonna tie you up and shove plugs up your ass. I’m not into that.” He smirked. “Unless you want me to.”
My body stiffened and my eyes bulged like I’d been shocked with a taser. Shove shit up my ass?
Uh, no. That would be a big, fat, fucking hell no.
“Then I’ll never do it,” he said, seemingly hearing my silent answer.
Feeling reassured, I propped my knee up on the bed and took his proffered hand. I drew in a labored breath, my heart beating in staccato as I shivered with anticipation, and fear. My expression must have shown my apprehension because he brought the straps close so I could touch them.
“These are silicone restraints.” He let me hold one of the pink, rubbery ropes in my hand.
It was soft and pliable. I noticed there was a slit in the end.
“This is where you place your wrists or your ankles.” He opened the slip, revealing a space barely big enough to wrap around an appendage.
Ah, restraints.
“They don’t pull and bite like metal handcuffs.”
Metal cuffs? Oh, hell, what was I getting into?
My heart raced and my breath caught in my throat, and yet I still didn’t say no. I could tell he was gauging my reaction. When I offered no further resistance, he continued.
“The restraints are attached to these straps, which are tethered to a rail underneath my bed.” He yanked on the restraints and I heard the metal rattle underneath us.
Holy, shit. This was a bondage bed. My mouth fell open and I jerked back.
“Wait,” he said, slipping a hand around my waist to hold me close. He placed a soft kiss against my open mouth. I moaned, and he smiled against my lips. Pulling back, he studied me, his eyes half-lidded. “You don’t have to do any of this, Hindley. Only if you want to.”
My mind was racing. What if I freaked out after he tied me up? What if I didn’t like this?
What if you do?
I knew all about this kind of play from Regan’s store, and I pretty much knew how it all worked…in theory. But to actually use all this bondage equipment was a whole new ball game.
“Is this what you do?” I asked, motioning to the straps. “Bondage? BDSM?”
“Sometimes.”
“Do you need it? You know, to get off?”
“I don’t need it, Hindley. It’s just a kink I have
. Some people like it, some people don’t.”
“Are you a dominant?”
He chuckled. “You girls and your erotic novels, I swear.”
I remained perfectly still, eyes wide.
“No, I’m not a Dominant in the term of the BDSM world, if that’s what you mean. I do like to dominate, but only to a level you’re comfortable with.”
I swallowed hard, my eyes darting around the room. That was good, I guess.
“Ask me anything,” he said.
“How long have you been doing this?” I reached out to touch the pink rope. “Tying people up and stuff?”
He shifted back and somehow, I knew I’d offended him.
“First of all, this is consensual. If you don’t want to do it, or you’re uncomfortable, we won’t do it. I don’t need it. Second of all, this type of play involves trust. If you don’t trust me, if I don’t trust you, then it’s pointless.”
“Why are you getting upset? I’m trying to understand. I never said I didn’t like it. I need to make sure I can do this. For you.”
“This isn’t for me, Hindley.” He reached out and stroked my face with the back of his hand. “It’s for you. I love that you trust me, and I want to show you how much I trust you too. With everything.” His heated gaze traveled the length of me and my body trembled with desire.
“So,” I cleared my throat, “you’ve done all this before?” I nodded to the straps. “I mean, your bed is pretty much designed for it, right?”
He laughed, but stopped when he saw I was offended.
“I’m not laughing at you, Hindley, I’m laughing at myself. To answer your question, yes, I’ve done this before.”
“Oh.” I worked to hold back the pang of jealousy threatening to bubble over.
“I don’t do it a lot.”
“But you have all the stuff.”
He shrugged. “I’m adventurous, I guess you’d say.”
“Okay.” Was that supposed to make me feel better? How many people, I wanted to ask. The question was on the tip of my tongue, but I knew I didn’t want to hear the answer.
“But I don’t do it very often because I don’t trust many people.”
“I don’t understand. You said this type of play is about trust. How could you have done this with other women if they didn’t trust you?”
“I’ve done it to other women, Hindley. But I’ve never had it done to me.”
I shook my head, completely confused. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying these are for me.” He yanked on the restraints.
My heart stopped. “Wait, you want me to tie you up?”
He nodded, his eyes darting between mine. “Only if you want to.”
“So, you’ve never been tied up with anyone before me?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
I realized in that moment that Rory Gregor was truly mine…and I was his. Surrendering his body to me, giving up control, was his way of showing me.
I’d been able to decipher from his cryptic stories that he’d come from a background of mistrust and abuse. To lay on a bed, completely vulnerable and at my mercy, was huge for him. I got that, big time.
I flung myself into his arms, toppling him over as I covered his mouth with mine. His hands gripped my backside as we tore at one another’s clothes.
When we were finally undressed, I sat up, gasping for air with a gleam in my eye. He trusted me enough to be vulnerable with me. It was time for me to do the same.
I dragged my hand along his tattoo on his ribs, tracing the outline of the skateboard.
He fell back onto the bed. “You love my tattoo, don’t you?”
“Um hum.” I traced a line up his torso, past his shoulder then back down his arm to his wrist. “Are you sure?” I gave him one last chance.
His half smile was my undoing.
I reached out to the rubbery strap and stretched the slit wide as I gently slipped his hand through. “Okay?”
His eyes flashed with a spark of uncertainty, but his face held a trusting smile.
I took my cue and crawled over his body to restrain the other hand, surprised at my nimbleness.
“Wow, you’re very good at this.” He smirked. “Are you sure you haven’t done it before?”
His playfulness was infectious and I wanted to join in.
I tilted my head and raised a brow. “Maybe.”
His face went slack with shock.
I giggled sheepishly, leaning down and placing a chaste kiss on his lips. “Only you, Rory Gregor. Only you,” I whispered.
Metal clanked underneath the bed, vibrating the mattress, and I looked up.
Rory was reaching for me but couldn’t thanks to the restraints.
I studied his beautiful face, intoxicated by his smoldering gaze. “Trying to touch me, are you?”
He waggled his brows. “You are quite the vixen, aren’t you, Miss Hagen?”
“Why yes, Mr. Gregor, I am,” I said in my best southern drawl.
We both laughed and my anxieties eased.
“Is it okay? Is it too tight?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m fine. So, what do you plan on doing now, Miss Hagen?”
“Oh, you only wish you knew, Mr. Gregor.” I straddled his hips, not surprised to find his erection pushing against my backside. “Ready so soon?” I laughed.
He bucked up against me. “I’m always ready for you, Hindley.”
His voice was a low growl and I thought I might orgasm right there on top of him, without even touching him.
“That’s right,” he continued. “I don’t even need to touch you to make you come.”
Oh, God, how could he read my mind so easily? I swallowed hard and donned my best Dominatrix persona.
“Well, Mr. Gregor, let’s see if I can do the same.” I rolled off his body and sat next to him, leaning my head down to his chest. I placed my lips as close to his neck as I could without touching and blew a warm breath against his dark skin.
He lifted his head trying to bring his lips to mine.
I pulled away quickly. “Uhnt, uhnt, uhnt,” I admonished, shaking my head. “No touching, Mr. Gregor, or I’ll stop. And trust me, you don’t want me to stop.”
His eyes went wide, mouth open. I’d shocked him, and myself.
I was in control, I was in charge, and the feeling was intoxicating. No one could tell me anything. No one could tell me what to do, how to act, or what to say. It was liberating, and addicting.
I reached to the floor and picked up my bra. Wrapping the material around my hand, I held it out so he could see what it was.
His gaze went from the bra to me and a shiver ran up my spine when his blue eyes flickered with desire.
Pushing down my nervousness, I slowly stroked his skin with the lace.
He moaned, the sound vibrating against my skin. Rory had been right. I didn’t need his touch to get me off.
I leaned over him, careful not to touch him as my breasts grazed tantalizingly close to his mouth. I stared at his face and I watched with great satisfaction when he closed his lids and licked his dry lips. The chains rattled from below.
“Christ, Hindley.”
Feeling empowered, I dragged my bra down his chest, slowly moving the material back and forth over his skin.
He squeezed his eyes closed as he clenched his jaw. Every muscle in his body tensed as he pulled against the restraints.
Fearing he may explode, I stopped and sat back on my heels.
He frowned and opened his eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Are you okay?”
He glanced down at his erection. “You’re killing me.”
My gaze followed his and a small smile tugged on my lips.
“Proud of yourself, are you, Miss Hagen?”
I turned to face him, leaning down, my lips a breath away from his. “Yes, Mr. Gregor,” I whispered, “I’m quite proud of myself.” I cut my eyes to his ever-growing erection. “Looks like I can make
you come without touching you too.”
His chest heaved and his breaths came out in staggered pants as I licked his bottom lip. He raised his head, trying to deepen the kiss but I moved my tongue down his whisker-covered jaw, sucking on his neck as I moved lower.
“Fuck, Hindley.” The chains rattled underneath us and I laughed. “This isn’t funny.”
I tossed my hair behind my shoulder and stared up at him. “I think it’s very funny, Mr. Gregor. Now lie back and enjoy or I’ll stop.”
He groaned but dropped his head to the mattress.
My tongue moved lower to his tattoo, and I traced the outline of “SK8R BOY” as my fingers wrapped around his stiff erection.
“Oh, God,” he moaned again, pressing his hips up into my grasp.
I smiled, feeling like a wanton sex goddess, ruler of my seductive domain.
“Hindley,” he whimpered.
“Yes, Rory,” I answered, kissing his rock-hard abs and moving lower.
“Please.”
I laughed against his skin. He was begging me, like I always did him.
The rattling of the clips against the metal railings grew thunderous. If I didn’t give him what he wanted soon, he was going to break the whole damn bed apart trying to get to me.
The thought infused me with more confidence and power than I’d ever felt before. I could do this to him—I could do this for him.
In this moment I was more alive than I’d ever felt, and for once, in control of my own destiny. It may not last for long, but the feeling was so addicting I couldn’t stop. And Rory had given me this chance. I wanted to give him everything.
Slowly I lowered my mouth over him, my tongue swirling around the head. The soft silky feel of him in my mouth was addicting.
He cried out and bucked against me, nearly causing me to gag.
Feeling empowered by his moans of pleasure, I licked and sucked, moving mouth mercilessly. His hips jerked, pressing into me and I matched his movements with the same fervor.
The sounds of the clattering chains below us spurred me on and I took in even more of him. My own arousal grew as I brought him closer to the edge.
“Fuck!” His voice thundered in my ears, driving me on. “Fuck, Hindley!”
With his last exclamation, he released inside me but I didn’t let him go. My mouth continued to work him through his final throws of pleasure.
“Please, Hindley,” he begged. “Please stop. It’s too much.”
