Bondage Included

by Tori Carson

  He picked her up and knew instantly it was a mistake. She fit into him perfectly. She was soft everywhere a woman should be. He tried hard not to breathe. Her scent filled him with a little slice of heaven.

  As he walked, he rested his chin on the top of her head. He was doomed. His cock would never play for anyone else now. It had somehow fixated on Adriana and wanted only her. The damn thing was straining against the zipper trying to poke her through their clothes.

  He kicked open the door. Most rooms had the door slightly ajar to make it easier on Doms who wished to carry their subbies into privacy rooms or other stations inside the club.

  He set her gently on the examination table, but she grimaced anyway. “What hurts?”

  “Just my bum and my pride.” She smiled at him.

  “Turn over, bebe, let me have a look.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea?” She sent him a look that did something to his chest.

  It made him feel soft and squishy. What the fuck was the woman doing to him? “I’m pretty sure it’s the worst idea I’ve ever had in my life, but do it anyway.”

  Adriana laughed deeply and seductively. It washed over him like a hurricane bringing utter destruction to his senses and left him feeling weak as a babe.

  She lay on her stomach, pillowing her head on her crossed arms.

  Her skirt was short and with her arms above her head, the cheeks of her ass were on display. Fuck, unless he was off his mark, she wasn’t wearing underwear. He wiped the sudden beading of sweat from his brow.

  This was silly, he’d seen naked asses almost every day of his adult life, so seeing hers shouldn’t be any different. And yet, he knew beyond a shadow of doubt that lifting her skirt and gazing upon her would be a view to haunt his dreams for months to come.

  As soon as André inched her skirt higher, he was assaulted by the deep black and blue mark. Broken blood vessels stood out in places and rage seethed in André’s belly. He’d seen similar bruising along tushes before, usually from an abusive asshole wielding a paddle. To see such marks on her perfect derrière made him ill.

  “Oh, cher, you’ve got quite a nasty bruise back here.” He rolled her skirt a little higher.

  “I figured as much. It smarts a bit.”

  “Let me get some arnica oil. It will help shorten the healing process. Sitting for the next day or two won’t be pleasant, though. I’m sorry.” He looked over his shoulder. “I need to get the oil from the cabinet. Don’t move. I don’t want you to roll off.”

  “No worries, André. I’m not a baby on a changing table,” she teased him.

  God, babies. Yeah, Adriana would think of babies. He hadn’t held one since Amanda was knee high to a grasshopper. He wouldn’t know what to do with one. “No, you’re not, but I hate seeing you hurt. Any idea who spilled the oil?” He had a mind to revoke their membership privileges.

  He bent down and checked the bottom cabinet. Finally, he found what he was looking for. He glanced at the rubber gloves and knew he should don a pair, but he couldn’t do it. This might be his only chance to touch and massage her backside and he wasn’t going to do anything that might diminish the experience.

  André poured a small amount of oil into his palm and warmed it before he spread it over her bum, as she called it. Try as he might, he couldn’t keep his touch impersonal. “Adriana, I shouldn’t be doing this. You know I want you and this certainly isn’t changing my mind. Do you want me to get Eva to come in here?”

  “No. If you don’t want to, though, I’ll be fine.” She looked at him with need-filled eyes.

  He groaned. “I didn’t say that. ‘Shouldn’t’ and ‘want to’ are completely different things. Don’t confuse one for the other.”

  “André…” Her voice was soft and sent a jolt of need straight to his cock. “Why are you being so stubborn? If you’d release your subs, we wouldn’t be in misery. I’d be all yours.”

  His fingers massaged the oil into the discolored area, then the other cheek. He just couldn’t stop touching her.

  “Adriana, we’ve been through this before. I have a responsibility to them, bebe. They’ve asked me to train them. It wouldn‘t be right to discard my duties when they’ve done nothing wrong. Besides, you and I aren’t right for each other.” If he ditched the girls, there’d be nothing to stop him from taking Adriana. They were her protection.

  “You’re wrong, André, on so many things, but I love you anyway.”

  She’d said it several times now. At first, the words had been non-sequitur. His brain had refused to acknowledge the meaning. It still gave him pause. “Don’t say that, bebe. You shouldn’t waste your love on the likes of me. You need to find a young man with a stand-up career. Someone your momma and papa would welcome into the fold.”

  She laughed. “Oh, André. You have no idea what you’re talking about. My parents…aren’t your typical family unit. You’d fit in better than you think.”

  Oh, he could imagine exactly what they were like—loud and fiercely protective of their baby girl. They’d want someone a little closer to her age. He wasn’t a dirty old man or anything, but he had a good, solid ten years on her. They’d probably want an Italian. No matter who she brought home, they wouldn’t think he was good enough, but she’d likely lose them altogether if she chose him.

  Adriana was being naïve if she believed they’d be okay with her dating a man that owned a kinky sex club. Once upon a time, he’d believed his family would accept his occupation. They knew what kind of man he was and while they might not have approved, he’d never dreamed they would turn their back on him.

  With a long sigh, he wiped off the excess oil and pulled her skirt back into place. “Can you turn over, cher? Let’s see if we can do something about that sore leg of yours.”

  The air rushed from her lungs as her weight came down on her backside. “I’ve never used a TENS unit. Do they hurt?”

  Although they’d spoken on almost every subject over the last few months, Adriana remained an enigma. She seemed to know what all the equipment was, but as far as he knew, she’d never scened at his club. He wasn’t sure how he’d ever handle it if she did.

  There were other clubs in the area. It was possible she’d been a member of one of those before coming to DiscipliNation, but she’d never mentioned it. She’d never mentioned previous partners either.

  That by itself was odd. His past subs went into great detail about every shmuck they’d ever dated or considered dating. His current trainees Sheila, Rachel and Candy talked non-stop about their past lovers.

  He shouldn’t be curious, yet he was. “Have you used a violet wand?” He wanted to know everything about her.

  “No. I’ve seen them used, but I’ve never felt one.”

  Interesting. “It shouldn’t hurt. We’ll start with the intensity low and increase it if need be. Show me exactly where it hurts.”

  “All along here.” She pointed to her inner thigh. “I even pulled a groin muscle, but I don’t want that on my… Well I’m just concerned about my leg.”

  Thank God, because he couldn’t be that close to her pussy and not either die from blue ball syndrome or take a taste. He drew his fingers along her thigh. Her legs were toned, making it easier to figure out exactly where the electrodes needed to be placed.

  “Stay still while I get what we need.” He bent down and opened the doors beneath the exam table. He pulled out the unit and the adhesive gel. After closing the cabinet, he stood up. “I’ll apply these electrodes.” He showed her the equipment he planned to use on her leg. “As the unit begins to work, your muscles will contract.”

  “Oh, I don’t like the sound of that.” She reached out to him. “It’s going to hurt, isn’t it?”

  He took her hand in his. “For a moment or two, maybe, but then it will reduce the pain. It’s up to you, cher.”

  She looked up at him with such trust he almost couldn’t stand it. He’d never wish her family ill, but why in the hell couldn’t she be an orph
an? Then he’d be free to claim her.

  “Do it.” She closed her eyes and took several deep, steadying breaths.

  André put it on the lowest setting. He knew the moment it began. Adriana squeezed his hand and scrunched her face. “Talk to me, bebe. How’re you doing?”

  “Okay,” she answered through clenched teeth.

  “You need to relax. You’re tensing up and fighting it.” He took her chin in his hand, a silent command that she look at him. As their eyes met, he watched the tension flow away. “That’s my girl. Perfect.”

  She exhaled sharply. “You’re right. I was making it hurt by tightening up. It feels weird.”

  He loved her smile. Her trust in him was making him think things he shouldn’t. He ran a hand through his hair. Maybe once the contracts ended, if she still wanted him, he’d offer Adriana a short contract. Just long enough for her to explore her kink and see what the lifestyle had to offer.

  Or he could back the fuck off and let her find the man she was meant to be with. One that could be there for her long term. Damn it, he was going to get an ulcer if he kept this up.

  “André, are you having sex with Sheila, Rachel or Candy?”

  What the fuck? Where had that come from? “Adriana…” She did this to him all the time. They’d be talking about something safe, something benign, then she’d throw him a question like that. It was like her mind had multiple talk tracks going at the same time and every now and then he’d switch rails without knowing it.

  “No, don’t ‘Adriana’ me. I’m trying to understand. I’ve told you how I feel and I think you’re at least attracted to me. Either that or you’re downing little blue pills the minute you see me. I can’t figure out why you’re being so stubborn.” She had tears in her eyes.

  He tried to convince himself it was the damage to her ass and leg, but he knew better. He was hurting her. Fuck! If he answered honestly, it would just feed her hope and what he needed to do was shut it down hard. So, why couldn’t he lie to her? It was for her own good.

  Because he was an asshole. Because he couldn’t completely dash the hope inside himself that somehow, some way, they’d make it work.

  “Sex means different things to different people, Adriana,” he skirted the issue.

  “André, you know what I’m asking.” She sighed. “Tell me you don’t want me and I’ll leave you alone, cancel my membership and be out of your hair.”

  He waved in the direction of his cock. “Obviously I’m attracted to you, but that isn’t the same as thinking we should be together.”

  “Are you having intercourse with them?” Her chin was up and she was tense again. “Is that it? You have three women at your beck and call and don’t want to give that up?”

  “No. We’re not a poly. Not in the true sense. When I first accepted Sheila, we tried to make a go of it. We both figured out, pretty early on, there wasn’t anything between us. She asked me to continue training her and I agreed. Rachel and Candy have always just been trainees.”

  “What are you looking for in a woman, André? What am I missing?” Her voice sounded strained.

  “Don’t do that, Adriana. Don’t cut yourself short. You’re perfect, too perfect for me. You deserve someone who has more to offer. I don’t want a wife and babies. I’ll most likely die single with a whip in one hand and a flogger in the other.” He tried to lighten the suddenly tense mood.

  “So because I would someday like to get married, you won’t play with me now?” She pulled her hand out of his and crossed her arms over her stomach.

  “You’re the one who has refused my advances. I believe you told me in very plain language that until I was sub free there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in Phoenix of us scening together.”

  She looked toward the wall. “I’m not going to be one of many. I want to know I hold my man’s full attention. I’m not asking for a ring, or a collar or a declaration of love. I just want a mutual agreement that we’d be exclusive. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

  “Asking for a ring, a collar and a declaration of love isn’t too much from the right man. I’m just not that man. I chose my path a long time ago, Adriana, and it’s too late to diverge now.” He wouldn’t have a clue what to do with his life if he gave up the club. Even if he did, it wouldn’t matter. The whole idea of family made him break out in a cold sweat.

  “You’re the most frustrating man on the planet.”

  André laughed. “Considering how often I’ve heard that assessment, there must be truth to it. I’m sorry, bebe.”

  “Do you want me to leave?” Her voice cracked.

  This was it. This was his out clause. If he told her he thought it would be for the best, she’d never grace his club again. Then what? Looking into the endless days without her sitting on the couch, holding his hand and laughing with him, left him dead inside.

  “No, cher. I would miss you terribly. But you have to understand, all I can offer you is friendship. Nothing more.” He refused to lead her on.

  She turned and looked at him again. Her eyes were red and filled with unshed tears. “Would you train me? No pretense of a relationship, just a contracted arrangement?”

  No fucking way in hell could he train her and stay objective. “No.”

  “Why not?” Now she sounded hurt, like he’d cut her to the bone.

  “You’re a dear friend, Adriana. I couldn’t possibly stay detached. It would be an unmanageable situation for both of us.” Not ten minutes ago, he’d considered the same thing, but he knew it would never work.

  “Translation… You’re afraid I’ll get under your skin and you can’t allow that,” she sniped back at him.

  “Oh you’d be under me, no doubt about that. Then you’d end up hating me. I don’t want this to end that way, cher.” He couldn’t be what she needed.

  “Fine.” She spat fire from those brown-black eyes of hers. “My leg is better. Thank you for all you’ve done. I think I’m going to call it a night.” She pushed herself up on her elbows.

  He shut down the unit and removed the electrodes. Fear began to unfurl in his stomach. Anger and hurt were pouring off her in waves. There was every possibility that she’d walk out and never be back. “Tomorrow night, we’ll do this again before the class begins.”

  “I doubt it will be necessary. I’m fine.” She was cold and distant.

  Well, he’d done it now. He should be pleased the cat and mouse routine between them was over, but it felt wrong instead. André racked his brain for something to say to get them back to the stalemate they’d shared for the last six months or so. Nothing. Fuck!

  He wound the electrodes and placed the unit and gel back in their spot as slowly as possible. Still nothing. Damn it!

  By the time he had everything put away, she was sitting up with her legs hung over the edge.

  “Let me help you down, bebe.”

  She pursed her lips and he knew No, was on the tip of her tongue. He was losing her. She was going to walk out of the door and never come back. His brain hazed over. Not a single word of wisdom came to him.

  Before she could jump, he grabbed her hips and lowered her until her feet touched the ground.

  “Would you like me to help you out to your car?”

  “No. I’m fine, thank you.” She threw open the door and left him standing there alone.

  “Three fines. If that doesn’t equal a fuck you, I don’t know what does,” he mumbled to himself.

  “What did you do to her now?” Eva accused him as he walked by the bar on his way to his office.

  “Nothing.” He waved her off.

  “I knew it. You both are hopeless.” Eva turned her back on him and started wiping down the counter.

  Chapter Two

  Adriana had intended to get on with her life, to leave the club and never look back. Yeah, that plan lasted a whole thirty-six hours. As soon as she woke up to André’s text, her resolve, which had already been wavering, collapsed completely.

  I’m wo
rried about you. Let me know if you need anything.

  Since she didn’t need anything he was willing to give her, she tossed the phone on her nightstand. She punched her pillow then screamed out her frustration into it. Still feeling a backlog of sexual tension, she got up on her knees, picked up the pillow by its corners and swung it into the bed with all her might.

  Her phone began to vibrate and a shrill ring sounded. Adriana bent her head and prayed for strength before answering it. “Hi, Momma.”

  “That man of yours still being difficult?” Maria Parma believed in getting right to the point.

  “He’s not mine, Momma.” Wait a minute. She hadn’t said a word to anyone about André.

  “I knew it. This mopey routine is about a man. Tell me.”

  Adriana punched her pillow one more time, wishing it was André. “Ahh, Momma, you know we agreed. Once I turned twenty-five, you’d stay out of my personal affairs.” Damn it! Why had she used that word?

  “So you’re having an affair, are you? Is he married? You know your brothers and poppa will likely shoot him.” Maria sounded more amused than anything else.

  “No, Momma, of course not. He’s just a stubborn a—jerk.” Barely caught that one.

  “Tell me about him.” Momma used her don’t argue with me voice and Adriana knew better than to avoid the inevitable.

  “He’s handsome and wonderful.” Adriana ground her teeth, mad that she sounded like a dreamy, star-eyed teenager.

  “And?”

  “He thinks I’m too good for him and that I should find someone you’d be proud of.” Well that was stupid. She’d just opened herself up to a million questions.

  “He’s probably right. Is he a bum? Does he have a job?”

  She didn’t dare tell any member of her family who she’d been pining away for. They’d show up en masse. “Yes, Momma. He owns a local business and is quite successful. Don’t worry about it. One way or another it will work out.”

  “Well, yes, most things do. Don’t discount his stomach. You young girls think it’s all about sex, but the way to get a man to the altar is through his stomach. Try baking a nice lasagna. You’d be surprised how a few good dishes can change their minds.”