“This is not a time for your pride. This is about convenience and economy. I pay a monthly fee to have a car available to me twenty-four-seven. It’s a waste of your money to get a cab. So you can just suck it up and enjoy the ride. Understand?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
She pulled out her cell phone. “And while you’re enjoying the ride, try to come up with a suitable apology for butting into a situation I had under control.”
“You mean the guy you were spanking?”
“Yes. And did he really deserve the threat of what you’d do to him if he ever looked at me again?”
Knox balled his hands into fists. “With all due respect, ma’am, that low-life fucker didn’t deserve your attention. He certainly didn’t appreciate it, and I didn’t appreciate the way he looked at you.”
“So you took it upon yourself to defend me?”
“No. I wanted to make it clear to you that you don’t need to find an unworthy whipping boy when you’ve got me. I was jealous of the attention you paid to him. And I was pissed he was looking at you with the same adoration I would’ve been had you given me the chance.” That part was hard to admit.
Her gaze softened. “I like having you as my champion, Knox.”
He relaxed.
“But this incident will require some discipline.”
Fuck. Nothing in her eyes was soft now.
But why did the idea of being at her mercy make his dick rock hard again?
CHAPTER ELEVEN
SHIORI wasn’t surprised by the sullen look on Knox’s face.
She probably should’ve waited to tell Knox about his impending punishment. But then again, letting him think about what he’d done and how she intended to correct that behavior might be easier on both of them since this was the first time he’d screwed up.
In the scheme of things, it wasn’t even that bad. And she’d gotten a secret thrill when Knox told the guy he wasn’t worthy of her. Knox’s jealousy surprised her.
It shouldn’t have. He’s the type of man who, once he stakes his claim, he’ll do anything to protect and defend it.
And yet again Shiori was glad they wouldn’t be playing at Twisted. Because Knox would spend his time snapping and snarling at any sub who even looked at her, and she’d be forced to keep him leashed. Which would be a pity because the man was magnificent when defending her honor. She’d never experienced anything like it before.
Silence had settled between them as the car service drove them to Knox’s house. He held her hand, but he’d directed his attention out the window. She ran her fingers through his hair. Such a fighter. Such a leader. Such an amazing lover.
Knox leaned into her touch, letting his head fall back against the headrest and closing his eyes. “Why are you staring at me, Nushi?”
“Because you are so very nice to look at.”
“Am I just a toy to you?” he asked softly. “Take me out and play with me when it suits you, and the rest of the time I’m shelved someplace where I can be admired but not touched?”
She’d never credited him with so much insight. “Have I made you feel that way?”
“Not yet. But I do worry that it’s in my future.”
She rose up and tugged his earlobe between her teeth. “It’s not in your future tonight.”
He turned his head, and their faces were so close their noses almost touched. Those blue eyes were dark with determination. “I want to renegotiate the time we spend together.”
“Now?”
“At some point tonight.”
“All right. We can discuss it.”
The car stopped. And of course Knox leaped out to help her out before the driver had a chance to.
Once they were inside the house, he led her to the kitchen. He hoisted her onto the breakfast bar, the highest counter, which gave her the height advantage.
“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“That’s not an apology.”
His nostrils flared. “I don’t know if I can apologize, because if I had it to do over again, I’d do the same damn thing. If that increases my punishment, so be it.”
“Such a stubborn man.” She framed his face in her hands. “I don’t expect I’ll have to discipline you often. But when I do, the punishment will fit the crime. So since you switched into the Dominant role, I have to remind you you’re not a switch. I want you to go into your backyard and cut a switch from a tree and bring it to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Then he was gone out the side door.
Shiori closed her eyes and played through the scene in her head.
Knox returned sooner than she expected. He handed her a thin branch. By the green color, she knew it was all new growth. Lightweight. Lots of give.
“Good.”
He said nothing as he kept his head bowed.
“Go into the living room and strip. Then wait for me.”
After he was out of sight, she slid off the counter and tested the give of the switch. The top section was so thin it almost had the feel of a stiff whip.
Okay. She could do this. She had to do this. For him. For them.
When Shiori reached the living room and saw Knox was standing in rest position, she snapped her fingers.
No response.
She moved in behind him. “For future reference, when I say wait for me, that means on your knees.”
He lowered to the floor.
She dragged the tip of the switch across his shoulder blades. Down his spine. Drew a zigzag pattern on his back and tapped his butt cheeks. “Now I want you to brace your hands against the wall by the front door but remain on your knees.”
“Mistress?”
“Yes?”
“Do you want me to crawl over there?”
“Knox. Look at me.”
When he turned his head, she saw two spots of color had darkened his cheeks. He’d schooled any anger, but that telltale muscle in his jaw ticced.
She set her hand on his shoulder. “I told you no humiliation. I meant it. Of course you can walk.”
He pressed his lips into her knuckles. Then he rolled to his feet and walked to the wall.
Once he’d dropped into position, she moved beside him. “Ten marks from the switch.”
Knox said nothing.
“You will count them out.” She landed the first blow high on his back.
He flinched and said, “One.”
She bent closer to see how the mark looked. Red, but not too much. She could go a little harder.
So she did.
She laid four marks across the broadest part of his back. Then she gave the last six on his ass. And with those marks, she put more power into it because that part of the anatomy could take it.
Afterward she ran her hands all over the marks, feeling the heat and the sweat on his skin. Last she placed a kiss at the base of his neck. “You did beautifully.”
He grunted.
“Need me to help you up?”
“No. I’ve got it.” Once he was upright he said, “Do I need to ask permission to use the bathroom?”
So he was still a little surly. Understandable. But not acceptable. “No. You don’t have to ask. But watch the attitude,” she warned, “or I’ll come up with a more creative punishment than a switch for that sassy mouth.”
“I apologize.”
“Slip on your shorts. Take a moment. I’ll be waiting for you in the bedroom.”
Shiori presented the Domme carriage and attitude, but inside her stomach churned. Although she and Knox had had sex tonight, this was also the first time she’d used discipline. He wasn’t into pain, so there’d been no pleasure in it for either of them.
But it’d been necessary.
Hadn’t it?
What if he said this was one and done? They’d fucked, and maybe their lust for each other would cool. Would it be easy for him to say he wasn’t interested in Dominant-and-submissive games
?
It wasn’t paranoia on her part. From the start Knox hadn’t been convinced he had submissive tendencies. Now, knowing that she could be deliberate in her punishments . . . he’d likely backtrack.
How could she convince him to stay the course? That they’d figure this out together?
She spun back around and was startled to see Knox leaning against the doorjamb, watching her pace.
His eyes weren’t blank or cold, but wary. He’d dressed as she’d indicated, athletic shorts only, so maybe he wasn’t about to get defiant. And because she needed to know if he was all in, she decided to test him. She snapped her fingers.
Surprise? Resignation? Both emotions appeared to cross his face. His steps were measured as he moved forward and dropped to his knees.
Her heart rolled over, and some of her worries faded into the background. She touched the top of his head and he rested his face against her thigh.
“Forgive me, Nushi.”
“We’re done with that, and we can move on.”
“I know. But I . . . broke one of your rules yesterday.”
Her eyes narrowed at him. “Which rule?”
“The only one you gave me.”
“About not touching yourself?”
“Yes, ma’am. I gave in to temptation and jacked off last night.”
“Explain.”
“I observed you from the Crow’s Nest as you taught the brown belt class. You were so fluid and dynamic in your movements, so exacting, and demanded the same from your students. My thoughts drifted back to Monday night. Getting to put my mouth on you and feeling how hard you came. I got so lost in remembering how you taste that I stuck my hand in my pants without really thinking and whacked off.”
“Was it satisfying?”
“As I was coming? Yes. Afterward? No. The guilt ate at me, and I’d decided to lie to you when you asked.”
Shiori counted to twenty before she responded. “You don’t think that I can detect a lie?”
“I’ve no doubt you can.”
“What changed your mind about telling me?”
“Your discipline. As much as I disliked it, I understood why you did it. And I realized if I did lie to you about my round of self-love, I’d be doing both of us a disservice. I’m supposed to be exploring this side of myself, and if I’m lying, that’s holding back. I don’t want to hold back.”
Not entirely what she wanted to hear, but it was a start. “I appreciate your honesty. I’m not happy that you blatantly broke the rule, but you were thinking about me, which is different from if you’d been watching porn.”
“You are far sexier with your gi on than most women are naked.”
Shiori curled her hand beneath his jaw and tipped his head back to gaze into his eyes. “Hoping flattery will soften me up?”
“No, ma’am. It is the gospel truth.”
“What was the sexiest thing about fucking me tonight, Knox?”
Sexual heat flared in his eyes. “That the urgency between us had built to the point we went at it in an alley with most of our clothes on and we forgot a fucking condom. That never happens with me. I’ve never craved a woman like I do you.” He groaned and briefly closed his eyes. “I’m sitting here on my knees, my ass stinging, knowing I’ve got more punishment in store, and my dick is getting hard just imagining being with you again.”
“Once you get going with the honesty, it’s hard for you to stop,” she murmured.
“I’m a talker. Drives Ronin and Deacon crazy, but a lot of stupid shit can be fixed or changed by a simple conversation.”
“I’m happy you’re a talker. I don’t want to have to try to guess what you’re feeling.” She glanced down at his crotch. “Although sometimes physical reactions speak volumes.”
He grinned.
“What am I going to do with you?” she murmured, mostly to herself.
“Are you asking for suggestions?”
She cocked her head. “If I were? What would you suggest?”
“You let me take you to bed.”
“And then?”
“We either fall asleep twined together, or we stay awake a little longer.”
“Meaning we could watch TV or something?” she teased.
“If you want.” But it was apparent that wasn’t what he wanted.
Since when does what a sub wants factor in?
Always.
“Tell you what. I’m going to indulge in a hot shower in your stadium-sized bathroom. While I’m in there, get ready for bed. I’ll need a T-shirt to sleep in. And I’d like a cup of tea before I go to sleep.” She paused. “Do you have tea?”
“No, ma’am. Would you like me to go to the store and get some?”
She scraped her fingernail along his collarbone. “They wouldn’t sell to you because I’d insist you go like this. But in the future I’d suggest you stock up on chamomile tea.”
“Of course. Whatever you want.”
“Stay in this position until I’m in the bathroom. Then you can make preparations for bed.”
“Yes, Mistress.”
Once inside the bathroom, she pinned her hair up. After she’d stripped and climbed in the huge shower, she wished she’d asked for instructions on how to turn it on since there were five different handles. She messed around until blessed hot water hit her.
Normally she didn’t shower at night, but she needed a moment to find her balance. Because Knox was certainly doing his best to keep her off balance. He’d gone from possessive and unapologetic to contrite, then to teasing. She’d never met a man like him who wasn’t afraid to show all the facets of himself.
She dried off and returned to the bedroom.
Knox lay in the middle of the big bed, the white sheets a perfect foil for his golden skin. He pushed up on his elbows when she approached. “How was your shower?”
“Excellent. But I think I might’ve pulled something in my back when I used that spanking board.”
“Would you like a massage?”
“Yes.” Shiori dropped the towel and stretched out facedown on the bed.
Knox straddled her butt, being careful not to sit on her. When he dug his thumbs into her neck, she moaned. He was gentle but thorough.
“You’re quiet,” she remarked when he started down her spine.
“I’m trying to relax you.”
“It’s working. I feel like I could just nod off.”
Unraveled Page 18
