Temper: Deference: Book One of the TEMPER Saga

by Lila Mina

  As a form of retaliation, Honda kept on biting and licking the mark he had made, still buried deep inside her.

  Hold it together, dammit, hold it! Don’t give in yet! This single thought swirled in the back of her head. Her determination was nearly shot to pieces when he thrust at a fast pace. She couldn’t move: his teeth still pressed her neck, the jaws of a hungry beast catching its prey. Her nails raked his chest, leaving deep and angry red marks behind. The tempest of emotions raging inside her left her panting.

  Honda released her, sliding out and sitting up before grasping her hips to turn her face down. He pushed her until she was flat on the floor, squeezed between the mats and his body. She grunted, trying to get on her knees to gain leverage but he was much too heavy.

  When he began pounding into her again, she could only let him have his way. His teeth grazed her skin once more, this time on her shoulder. His harsh bite drew blood, which he sucked and licked away. His sheer passion, his bare hunger ignited Lana’s arousal as much as his primitive rutting.

  How? How does he know? Why am I so turned on? Where does this perfect chemistry come from? It’s crazy!

  Heat shot from her core and, strangely enough, from somewhere right below her ribs. Her whole body was on fire, all rational thoughts evaporating like water under the midday sun. Sweat erupted on her back and chest. Unable to control her grunts and moans, she used the pain radiating from her shoulder to fuel her will.

  He let go of her and easily caught her chin to turn her head toward him, claiming her mouth once again. Tasting her own blood in his mouth, she decided to return the favor one way or another.

  Her orgasm was building up fast, but it was his own release and feral growl in her mouth that pushed Lana over the edge. Her body started to shake, and her eyes rolled back when she let out a throaty shout. For a few minutes, he stayed where he was, his body a warm blanket over hers. Deeply satisfied, Lana hummed, while tremors still made her quiver.

  There was a problem, however, and they both knew it.

  She had not relented. She had shown him her strength.

  Without any comment, Honda straightened up, bringing her along to make her straddle him. Sweat trickled along her heaving chest to her navel. She swept her hair out of her eyes with her arm, where tatami burns already bloomed in large bruises. But she remained steady.

  Honda caressed her face, glanced at his bite marks–purple and red, showing the indent of his teeth–while deft fingers pinched and twisted a hard nipple. A small moan escaped her; a hand slid up in his hair and gripped it, the other roamed on his powerful and smooth chest where she had left slight scars. Strong muscles rippled under his soft and taut skin. Not a trace of fat in sight.

  Damn, it should be illegal to look so good at his age.

  He pressed his mouth to her ear. “You are strong; I doubt you have met a man who could match you before me. But I know what it would take to overwhelm you.”

  Her anger soared up again. Lana licked her dry lips and wriggled on his lap. Oh, you’re so full of yourself! Making me cum once–even hard–doesn’t make you the king of my castle yet!

  She bit back a nasty comment and a grin. He would undoubtedly need time to recover given his age. Instead, she chose a silent challenge: she licked his jaw from his right ear toward his mouth. Her nails dug deeper along his ribs, leaving new angry red marks behind.

  This time, Honda grunted in a mix of pain and pleasure. He pulled her head back. Their eyes locked. His intensity, his iron will, and the energy coursing under his skin made her shiver with renewed arousal.

  A dark and raging tempest swirled inside her. An odd recognition tugging at her bones, like rusty old gears getting back into motion. She could tame this man, but deep down, submitting to him didn’t sound so bad after all. She had never been so exhilarated and aroused, and certainly not so fast.

  Honda pushed her down, but this time he kept her in his arms and moved with her, spooning against her back, his soft member against her ass. Her half-naked body was now exposed. In this position, there was no way to grasp him or hold him without exerting significant effort.

  His hand roamed over her body, caressing and pinching her skin. He kissed and licked her neck, nibbling it now and then, sending shivers running along her spine. Sharp teeth caught her earlobe and pulled hard. She hissed and tried to move away, with no success. He had wrapped himself around her limbs.

  “Ready, little mudansha?” he purred. Her ‘novice’ pet-name warmed her heart.

  She blinked in confusion then felt his fingers at her entrance. First, only two, then three, stretching her and going deep. Little electric shocks made her sigh and groan, but while it was nice and pleasurable, there was nothing extraordinary to it.

  She closed her eyes to enjoy a more languid pace than before. He brushed her clit now and then and licked her burning and sweaty skin; her inner muscles clenched around him in response. The guy had technique and skills, well beyond aikido.

  But when he added a fourth finger, Lana gasped and twisted her upper body to face him, incredulous. No way! Is he going to… Just like this?...

  Face blank, he stared back at her, a silent challenge in his eyes. She opened her mouth to protest, but words turned into a snarl as he slid his thumb in, completing the fist inside her.

  Lana hissed, and shut her eyes. Her nails dug in his arms to keep herself grounded in reality. He wasn’t moving, but his hand was overwhelming. To her utter embarrassment, sobs built deep inside her and swam to the surface. It was painful, yes, almost too much so. Still, the intense growing pleasure mingling with a craving for more couldn’t be denied.

  Again, that pull, that tug. Deep inside her, something sat caged, and Honda, of all men, rattled its bars and nearly drove her mad.

  Out of breath, sweating, half sobbing, she summoned all her strength to grasp his lapel again and pull herself close. “What... are.... you... doing... to... me?” Lana grunted through clenched teeth, not caring to hide her anger. The onslaught of pleasurable pain–or was it painful pleasure?–made her light-headed.

  “Getting you to kneel at my feet. Demanding your allegiance of spirit and body,” he growled back, turning his fist inside her, and pushing a little bit further. At his words, something exploded inside her and her vision turned black for a split second. She didn’t groan; she roared and let go of his jacket to snatch his invading arm, but it was of course useless: his wrist was so thick her hand couldn’t cover it entirely.

  He took his time licking the sweat off her neck. “Shall I stop? Is this too much for you?”

  And right then, she lost.

  “No, please! I... beg... you, I… need this… Honda Sensei…” Her body shook with repressed desire.

  “Goshujin sama,” he reminded her with a short bark, taking half his hand out.

  She hissed in anger and frustration. A sob wracked her body again, and she twisted his jacket, pulling herself against him once again. “Please, goshujin sama! Fill me and make me come hard…” she whispered, her voice low and tight, tears flowing on her burning cheeks.

  It killed her to beg, but she couldn’t bear to lose that feeling before completion. He pushed back inside her and started thrusting, in and out, slowly but with purpose. Her world disappeared, her mind blanked out, the thing inside her roared and broke free, and a crashing wave swept her away. She forgot her name, lost her bearings and finally consciousness for a few heartbeats.

  Lana opened her eyes to find herself in his arms, face buried against a perspiring chest bearing the signs of her passion. His rapid heartbeat drummed under her ear, and for a split second, she wished she could remain there all night. Something wet and sticky covered her back.

  She smiled against his skin, feeling smug and somewhat vindicated. Well well well… look at that… bringing me down to heel made you hard and happy all over again...

  Their eyes met. She didn't trust her voice yet. To her intense satisfaction, his composure was far from pristine. Beads of sweat cover
ed his hairline, and his breath was ragged. Honda gazed at her with narrowed eyes; her test wasn’t over.

  A new part of her wanted to be held and hugged, to be cradled. But the other part, more familiar and strong as steel, didn’t want to hear about such things. Cuddling and whispering sweet nonsense were for lovestruck couples; whatever they were, this wasn’t it. But what? What is this?

  Ignoring her sore body parts, Lana disentangled herself, and he let her go without any further comment. She put her dogi back in order. Though her legs and nether regions protested, she drew away from him and sat in seiza.

  She had gambled and lost, she had to relent and concede defeat. Caught in her burning desire and voracious hunger, she had pledged to submit, and she wasn’t one to go back on her given word. Above all in a country where this was taken so seriously.

  She bowed her head to the ground, her forehead on her hands in front of her. “My deepest gratitude for this precious gift, goshujin sama, and my most sincere apologies for my behavior in the past,” she intoned. She waited for his signal, but for a few minutes, nothing came. The only thing she heard was the rush of blood in her ears.

  “Straighten up,” he grunted.

  Hands flat on her lap, she kept her eyes lowered to the ground, trying her best to school her behavior even though it was unfamiliar territory for her.

  To her surprise, he moved closer, within her arm’s reach. “Do you understand now what I expect of you?”

  “I believe I do.” Truth to be told, she was confused, and more than a little curious. To go from such an extraordinary intimacy to a businesslike interaction in a couple of heartbeats was new. It was quite different from past experiences, even one-night stands, because for a while there, they had exchanged something powerful.

  Honda took her chin and lifted it up. He scrutinized her face, searching for clues hinting at rebellion, lies or hidden thoughts. She did her best to keep her gaze neutral and non-aggressive.

  Fingers tightening on her jaw, Honda quirked an eyebrow, pointing at his chest. “You hurt me on purpose. Do you plan to repeat this in the future?”

  Ah yes, my nails. That was fun! I wish I had drawn blood though... Then his question registered.

  “You plan to do this again?” she blurted out, surprise and hopeful anticipation swelling in her.

  Honda chuckled and didn’t let go of her chin. “Anxious for more, aren’t we? Teaching you how to check your temper and your quick tongue when it comes to me seems indeed to require more… practice. Answer my question.”

  Lana breathed in deeply, unsure of what would be the right reply. “It… would be my pleasure to do it again if you wish me to,” she articulated. Hot as hell would be a better word, but hey...

  “Better. And yes, I would have you do it in the future, as I will mark you again, in many ways. Your resilience is remarkable. It opens the door to many possibilities.” His voice was calm and expressionless as if discussing some fine points related to an aikido technique, but his words sent new shivers down her spine.

  “I thought you didn’t want me to show strength toward you,” she pointed out, face controlled, suppressing new waves of excitement at what he suggested.

  His hand swept from her chin to her cheeks and finally rested on her neck. “Do not confuse obedient respect with weakness, or strength with childish opposition, Lana san. You will need all your resourcefulness of mind and body to handle my demands. Battle hard against me. I am not interested in dolls. You already saw a little of this today, didn’t you?”

  Again, some form of dark joy bloomed inside her chest. A kind of relief that left her wondering about her repressed desires. “Yes. So, does it mean you want to push me until I break?”

  Honda tutted and clenched his hand on her neck, keeping it just below the threshold of pain. “No, I do not wish to break you at all. I want to make you stronger, to make you realize you can go much further than you think. But you need to put yourself into my hands, into my care, and accept I do know better, even when it comes to your body. You need to show me absolute obedience.”

  Baffled, Lana recoiled a little. Hold on, where are we going with this? “Forgive me, but I want to do it my way just for a minute.” Time to test his willingness to respect her limits. He removed his hand from her neck, and she regained some freedom. Arms crossed, she moved into full business negotiation mode. “Will I be able to put an end to this if I want to?”

  His eyes narrowed at her stiff and direct body language, but she didn’t look away or back down. He had to understand she was willing to play this game only because she liked it, not because he was domineering his way through.

  “You may decide to stop everything at any time. Of course, such a decision would not affect your aikido practice here, although be aware that I plan to raise the bar of my expectations, given your skills and potential for growth.”

  She nodded, happy that this was out of the way. Moving on to the most important part. “How much will my consent matter?

  “Your consent is key, and you must always express your limits. This is what I want: your willing obedience and sincere show of respect. We will decide on safe words and gestures you may use.”

  “And what would you call our… relationship?”

  He hesitated. “Like the one we share in this dojo; a form of training.”

  Lana couldn’t help a frown. Training? Of the sexual kind? Is that what they called friends with benefits, a submissive or a mistress here? Well, fluffier emotions were to be kept at bay. All fine in her book. She had no time for that.

  “I understand, thank you. Well then,” she said, taking a deep breath and once again bowing her head to the floor. “Then, goshujin sama, yoroshiku onegai itashimasu,” she stated in a clear and strong voice.

  This was an everyday polite expression of gratitude, but she had used the most formal register to increase their significance; this time, it went well beyond usual politeness. She was literally putting herself in his hands, in his care. Goosebumps broke out on her skin, and a sudden acute pain shooting from somewhere below her sternum made her grimace in annoyance. It wasn’t a good time for acid burns.

  Honda replied in kind and bowed to her in return, but not as low, because in his book his social status put him above hers. And now that they were into this dom/sub thing… he was even more entitled to it. While this still bothered her at some level, she had agreed to play his game. They straightened up again, and he bid her good night, leaving her to her own thoughts in the deserted dojo.

  4

  Losing Control and Denial

  Two weeks later, on a sunny but cold Saturday afternoon, Lana stood in front of a hotel entrance. The establishment was fifteen or twenty stories high, and in the same district as their dojo and her condo. Maybe Honda lived nearby, too.

  She cringed and double-checked the note he had given her. The address was correct. With its fancy façade made of fake European-style red bricks and blind windows, it was a love hotel. An upscale one, for sure, but it would be a big first for her. Why pick this kind of place? Well, as if I would ask him! I guess we won’t spend the night, thank goodness. Talk about... awkward.

  She had waited for their first real date with trepidation. Remaining aloof and professional during training wasn’t an issue. And indeed, there had been no trace of innuendo or any dubious gesture hinting at something else. Quite the opposite: Honda had become merciless and relentless with her. Nothing had transpired, no arched eyebrow made her uncomfortable. The rumor mill was silent.

  Their new dynamics outside the mats was another story. A string of meetings and deadlines at work hadn’t given her time to dwell on it though. Maybe confiding in Gabriella would be a good call. Still, something kept Lana from doing it. She wasn’t ready to hear hard truths about herself and the delicate position frolicking with her instructor put her in.

  “So, cold feet, hmm? Maybe he’s not worth it, after all?” Lana jumped out of her skin and glanced around, frantically searching for the origi
n of the shrill voice.

  What the–?

  An old woman, with more wrinkles on her face than Lana had hair on her head, stood behind her, a large toothless smile on her parched lips. She was small—no, diminutive. Her back and legs bent unnaturally, certainly due to decades of hard labor in rice fields. Surprise quickly turned into irritation.

  “Obaa san! Sorry, do I know you?” Old folks! How come they always meddle in people’s lives?

  If possible, the woman’s grin turned even wider. But there was no glee in the piercing glare she threw at Lana, who shuddered. Goosebumps covered her arms.

  “So flustered, did I hit a nerve? You’ve been gawking at the entrance for five minutes now. Either he’s really bad at it or more than you can handle,” she said with a loud cackle that followed her until she disappeared around the corner of street.

  Lana remained frozen on her spot for a few minutes, rattled by the brief interaction with the old hag. Then her initial annoyance turned into aggravation. More than I can handle? Ha! As if!

  With a vengeance, she strolled toward the hotel and stepped inside. In this business, discretion was key. No staff at the check-in counter, everything was automated. As often in Japan, the black marble floor was so squeaky clean you could eat off it. The walls and windows were spotless, and low-key jazz music played from hidden speakers. By far, not a shady motel.

  The elevator brought her to the 8th floor. Several drink and food vending machines were lined up opposite the elevator, next to one with prepaid cards for video on demand. Even more revealing, another offered a wide range of condoms coming in all sizes and flavors.

  Her odd meeting in the street forgotten, she gawked at the machine selling dozens of colorful sex toys, at a total loss with the impossible shapes of some of them. Her fingers hovered near the slot containing an extra-large double dildo, but a burst of shyness held her back. Let’s go empty-handed this time… I’ll bring along weapons next time.