Tested: The Dark Necessities—Dalton's Tale #3

by Felicity Brandon

  Dalton hadn’t glanced back, but he’d heard her thoughts, and Delilah flustered, fumbling with the hem of her dress.

  “I’m stripping, sir.”

  She passed the fabric over her hair, discarding it onto the bed before she removed her bra and was left in her garter belt and stockings. She barely saw the need for panties these days. Life with her new lover meant they were rarely required.

  “Good.”

  He turned, sauntering in her direction with two full glasses of red wine.

  “Because sir needs to put his feet up, and frankly, it’s been too long since you made yourself useful.”

  Heat bloomed in Delilah’s cheeks at the comment, but there was no real embarrassment anymore. Moreover, excitement consumed her as she fell to her knees in front of his favorite spot on the couch—excitement and the moisture pooling at her sex.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Dalton took his place, taking a sip from one of the glasses before he offered the other to Delilah. She smiled at him from beneath her lashes, knowing very well how she was required to receive drinks from Dalton by now. Clasping her hands behind her back, her lips parted, and when he tipped the wine glass, she sipped from it eagerly.

  It wasn’t quite the act of surrender which she knew Molly performed when she lapped drinks from her dog bowl, but it was more than enough concession for Delilah, and while the thought of the pet play turned her on, she didn’t think she could live with it.

  Not permanently.

  “We’ll save that for the dungeon then,” Dalton smirked at her, his gaze knowing, and she blushed harder, waiting while he placed the glasses down on the table beside the couch.

  “Where’s my footrest?” His brow arched with the question, and Delilah scrambled to comply, falling to all fours and positioning her body just beyond his legs.

  He lifted one and then two feet gently onto the middle of her back, and her eyes fluttered closed at the heady sense of submission, which fell over her.

  “I’ve missed this, sir.”

  Dalton laughed gently. “Me too, little girl.”

  “I’ve missed us. I’ve missed the sex.”

  His laugh deepened. “I love the sex, too. You know, I do.” He reached forward to trail a line over the curve of her arse. “But it’s more than just that.”

  Delilah sighed, and for the first time in her life, she realized the sound wasn’t due to resignation or disappointment but contentment.

  She was actually happy.

  “More than just the sex, sir?” She tilted her head to catch his eyes, and Dalton caught sight of her grin.

  “Yes, naughty girl. More than just the sex. You think you only want the sex, Delilah, but it’s not always about that.”

  She inhaled, reveling in the feeling of his feet on her body, the way it lowered her to something which was merely useful to him—something less than herself, yet something exponentially greater. She closed her eyes at the conundrum.

  “I think what you want is intimacy, firecracker.”

  Delilah’s lips curled. She did want that.

  “The intimacy between us.” He paused. “To be touched, admired, smiled at, to have someone to laugh with.”

  Someone like me.

  “Somewhere to be safe—someone to make you feel safe.”

  And I always will, I swear it. She could hear the determination in his thoughts. I’ll never let anything happen to you again, beautiful.

  “Someone who truly has your back, Delilah. And that’s what you have with me, baby. I have your back, and I always will.”

  “I know, sir.” A sudden surge of emotion rose in her, and Delilah fought to blink away the tears. “I know, and I’m so happy.”

  I’m glad.

  “You’re everything gorgeous.” His voice was like a soft sigh in the wind. “You’re dirty, and you’re sweet—you’re everything to me.”

  She giggled. “Isn’t that a line from a song?”

  “Busted.” He laughed with her. “Okay, I admit that last part was courtesy of the Goo Goo Dolls, but still, the sentiment is mine.”

  Delilah grinned at him, focusing back on the carpet between her palms.

  “I’m so glad we found each other.” A life without Dalton was barely even worth contemplating.

  “I know. Just think if your sassy little mouth hadn’t been on fire that night in the line outside Diablo, none of this might have ever happened.”

  Her mind flitted back to the night he referred to, and she blinked at the floor. Dalton was right. If she’d been cool-headed that night with Polly and less suspicious about BDSM, he likely never would have signed them in, in the first place.

  “It’s funny how things turn out, sir.”

  “Yes, it is. Funny, but good, too. So good, Delle. You’re what I’ve been looking for all this time—a reason to enjoy my life.”

  She grinned. Delilah liked the sound of that. She liked it a lot.

  “So, how can I serve you tonight, sir?” She nibbled her lower lip as she asked, intentionally wanting to seduce him—as if being virtually naked at his feet wasn’t salacious enough.

  “Well.” He leaned back into the cozy confines of the couch. “It’s been a while, hasn’t it, firecracker?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Delilah had lost track, but it seemed like forever since he’d really put on a dominant display for her. In the days since the Hyland incident, they had held each other and fucked, but Dalton had refused to take her to Diablo—refused to cage her.

  “It’s too soon for that.” His tone was curt. “But we will go to Diablo, I promise. Tonight, I just thought we could play with some objectification.”

  Her lips curled at the idea. “Yes, sir. That sounds good.”

  Dalton chuckled. “You say that now, Delle, but just wait.”

  She glanced toward him. “I trust you, sir.”

  “I know, and I’m glad, but I intend to push you. I…” He hesitated, his brow furrowing. “Unless…”

  “What, sir?”

  “I’m just conscious about all the shit you went through at the hands of that bastard. I don’t want to do anything which reminds you of him.”

  “Sir.” The word was almost a sigh. “You are nothing like him. Don’t even think that way, please.”

  Dalton’s jaw tightened. “I know. It’s just…”

  I can’t believe I let him take you. I can’t believe the way he treated you.

  “I just want the distinction to be clear, Delle. That I love and cherish you and he… well, he was only a worthless piece of shit.”

  “It’s not your fault.” Memories of the time she’d spent at the hands of Hyland flashed through her mind. “They beat the crap out of you. I thought you were dead.” Emotion caught in her throat with the admission, and for a moment, Delilah couldn’t say another word.

  Dalton’s feet were gone from her back in an instant.

  “Hey.” He was right there with her, cocooning her body with his heat. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to force all those memories back.”

  “It’s okay.” She sniffed. “It happened—shit happens—and I have to deal with it.” And she would. Delilah always did.

  “We have to deal with it,” he reminded her as he brushed his lips over the back of her shoulder. “You’re not on your own anymore, Delilah. You’re never going to be alone again.”

  Delilah smiled, nuzzling her head into the crook of his neck. It was so good to hear those words and know she could believe them.

  Dalton was that man, strong, reliable, and loving. As soon as they were back at The Syndicate’s tower, he’d recovered from his barrage of physical complaints quickly and had dedicated most of the time since to caring for her, as well as checking in with Saul and Connor, of course.

  “Perhaps we should leave this for now.” His arms snaked to her middle and gently pulled her back to her haunches. “It’s not a good idea to play if you’re still dealing with all this trauma, and believe me, I totally get it.”
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  “No, please.” She spun to face him, her eyes large and imploring. “Please, sir, I want this. I need it!”

  Dalton looked skeptical. “I’m not sure, beautiful. I think it’s too much.”

  “But you said you wanted to push me?”

  “And I will,” he insisted. “When the time is right.”

  She sighed. “Just a little of whatever you had in mind then? Please, sir.”

  “A little objectification?” His brow rose, and he smirked at her until she giggled.

  “Yes, sir.”

  Dalton shook his head. “Are you trying to top me from the bottom, little girl?”

  Delilah ran her tongue over her teeth. “Maybe just a little. Sir.”

  “You won’t get away with that once all this is over.” His voice had lowered to that low, delicious timbre—the one that sent her heart racing.

  She met his knowing gaze. I know, and I can’t wait.

  His smile widened, confirming he had heard the thought.

  “You should be careful what you wish for, but, for now, you can persuade me.”

  Delilah grinned, but her breath caught at the dark glint in his gaze.

  “Do you remember your safe word?”

  Excited butterflies stretched their wings at his question. It had been so long since she’d heard it—too long.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Tell me.”

  “It’s flame, sir.” Her gaze flitted to him briefly before lowering back to her lap.

  “Good.” Dalton leaned to kiss her forehead. “Don’t be afraid to use it, firecracker, but know, unless you do, you’ll submit until I decide it’s over.”

  She pulled in a breath, noticing the way her nipples beaded. “Yes, sir.”

  Silence fell over them as he rose to his feet. She could feel the weight of his stare and the tantalizing way his authority kept her eyes on her knees.

  “Crawl to my drawer by the bed and bring me your collar and leash.”

  Oh God. Delilah’s heart skipped a beat. She’d been fantasizing about the leash for days now—a fact Dalton was no doubt aware of.

  “Is there a reason you’re making me wait?” The low resonance of his tone washed over her like rain.

  “No, sir. I’m sorry.”

  “Then move. Delay me any longer, and you’ll be meeting my cane tonight as well, Delilah.”

  She bit back on the smile threatening to rise at his warning, pressing her palms forward, already en route toward the bed.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Dalton

  The sight of her took his breath away, but as Delilah crawled back in his direction, leather between her teeth and the metal of the leash running between her breasts, he fought to compose himself. She needed him to lead her—to be the man she’d always fantasized about—and that meant more than just jerking off over how freaking hot she looked when she reached his feet, although she did.

  So. Freaking. Hot.

  “Good girl.”

  He held his palm out in front of her, and she dropped the collar and the handle into his hand like an obedient animal. Dalton’s cock swelled at the analogy.

  “You’ve missed this.”

  It was more of an observation than a question as he secured the collar around her dainty neck. Delilah’s thoughts had already confirmed as much. She had absolutely missed their kink.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m glad.” Dalton hooked the metal around the D-ring at her neck and ran his fingers up the length of chain.

  Making her wait.

  Making her squirm.

  “I have, too, firecracker. We both need it.”

  Briefly, she tilted her chin north, their eyes meeting, and all Dalton could see in those orbs was passion and need. The need for him and the urge to comply—something which had so rarely been evident before.

  “Since it’s too early for the cage, I suggest we use what we have.” He rose from the bed, tugging at her leash as he wandered toward the end of the structure. “And what we have is a sturdy bed, just perfect for securing salacious, needy little girls.”

  Oh God.

  He never heard the words from her lips, but he perceived just the same, Delilah’s desire radiating around his mind when he glanced down at her. Dalton bit back on the grin that wanted to surface at her response, pulling at the metal separating them to bring her to heel.

  “I want you kneeling and facing the bed.”

  He swallowed hard when she obeyed, compelling his arousal to ebb just long enough for him to get Delilah into position. She could hear his thoughts now, at least some of them, and it wouldn’t do for her to know just how much she affected him.

  Not at this critical moment of surrender.

  “Very nice.” Dalton moved around her body, sliding the handle of her leash down over the wooden post of his bed. The piece was an old-fashioned style, but the four posts only rose to shoulder height, making it perfect for what he had in mind.

  Dalton lowered, speaking softly into her ear. “That should hold you, Delle, unless you’re going to try any amateur dramatics on me.”

  She turned, offering him a furtive smile. “I won’t, sir. I promise.”

  He caught his breath at the fire burning in her eyes, the heat of that passion threatening to scorch his entire world. Arousal pooled in his balls, tightening until it was almost painful.

  Fuck.

  Dalton fought to remain calm, to be in control.

  “Good.”

  His arms snaked around her warm skin, his hands settling on her wonderful breasts.

  “On your feet now. I want you leaning over the bed.”

  Delilah exhaled, complying slowly, and all the while, he massaged her tits, lengthening and pinching her nipples until she groaned.

  “You like being leashed to the end of my bed?”

  She laughed, the sound strained as she grasped the wooden bedstead. “Yes, sir. Yes, I fucking love it.”

  “Duly noted, firecracker.” Dalton grinned, allowing his fervor to show now that she couldn’t catch sight of him. “Perhaps in the future, I can keep you there all day, leashed, bound, and wet, just begging for my attention.” He breathed the words into the side of her neck, his fingers squeezing her beading nipples just a little harder. “For my cock.”

  “Yes.” Delilah rolled her head back against him. “That sounds so good, sir.”

  Dalton smiled, nibbling at the soft flesh of her throat. Delilah was right. It sounded fucking magnificent. He ground his growing erection into her hip as if to prove the point.

  “We’ll try it then, but not as a punishment, for it seems my little girl is far too excited about the prospect for that.”

  Delilah glanced in his direction as best she could. “Guilty, sir.”

  “Yes, you are.” He gazed down into her pale blue eyes. “Yet I’ve fallen for you, Miss Bellamy. For all your guilt, I want you. I want to fucking ravage you.”

  She ran her tongue over her top teeth, her eyes ablaze. “Do it, sir.” Her tone was almost goading. “Take what’s yours.”

  His lips curled at the challenge in her voice. Dalton was more than up for it.

  “Not that I need your permission, but I will…”

  His right hand fell to his pants, releasing his eager cock, and in a heartbeat, it was buried between the cheeks of her delicious arse.

  “Legs apart.” His voice was a growl. “Wider.”

  Delilah panted as she obeyed, arching her back without his prompt, encouraging his hardness inside. Cocooning her body, he nudged the tip over her wet lips, his need swelling further. A guttural moan escaped her mouth.

  “Yes.” Delilah’s head fell forward. “Do it, sir. Fuck me.”

  “Fuck.” He wanted to. He wanted to so much, but even at this most carnal juncture, the need to do the right thing plagued him.

  “What is it, sir?” Delilah glanced over her shoulder, her eyes wide with frustrated concern.

  He shook his head, slapping her prone ba
ckside as he edged away.

  “Condom,” he hissed through gritted teeth, shifting over to the bedside drawer where he kept his stash.

  “Oh, hell, I don’t care about that.” Delilah sounded desperate. “Please, sir, just fuck me.”

  “Not without this.” He reached for the shiny package, ripping the condom free by the time he was back between Delilah’s legs. “We don’t want any unexpected arrivals, Delle.”

  “Oh, please,” she sighed, gripping the wood for grim life as he slid the sheath over his eager length.

  “Now, you get what you want, you greedy little girl.” Dalton eased into her hot cunt effortlessly, reaching to grab a fistful of her hair as he plunged deeper.

  “Yes.” Her head fell back to his shoulders, her eyes closed as he directed her face toward him.

  “Is this how you like it?” He slammed into her pussy, filling her completely.

  “Yes, sir.” Delilah’s mouth fell open, her hips grinding back against him. “Yes, like that. Give it to me, sir. Show me how it’s done.”

  “Yes, little girl.” His fist tightened in her hair. “Yes, I will. Leashed, naked, and fucked like an animal?”

  “Yes.” Delilah’s eyes fluttered open to meet his gaze. “Oh, yes, sir. Yes!”

  His heart raced at the passion in her eyes. He could see the devotion and knew, without a doubt, Delilah loved him more intensely than anyone had ever loved him.

  More than Connor.

  More than their mother, Lily.

  More than anyone.

  “Fuck me harder, sir, please.”

  Delilah didn’t have to ask him twice. Releasing her hair, his hands settled on either side of her palms, stabilizing him as he thrust into her welcoming body, claiming her over and over. She groaned, struggling to catch her breath while he filled her, yet clearly relishing every second of his possession.

  “Is that how you like it, firecracker?”

  She turned her head to meet his gaze, her cheeks flushed, a small salacious smile evident at her lips. “Yes, sir,” she breathed. “That’s so good. You are so good.”

  The look of her pleasure stirred Dalton even further, and unthinkingly, he leaned down, his mouth crashing into hers. Whatever she was going to say was lost in the passion of the kiss, his tongue gliding over her teeth before he nipped at her lips.