by Maya Banks
Breathe. She had to remember to breathe.
Her body jerked, the leather straps digging into her wrists as she reacted to the third lash. Tears swamped her eyes, and she breathed raggedly through her open mouth. Oh God. Red. So much red. It gathered in her periphery and the room swirled around her.
Four. Five. Six. The lashes fell, the sound sharp. She twisted and writhed, but she endured without a sound.
Seven. Eight. Nine.
A low hum settled in her ears and she floated, no longer feeling the strain on her wrists. She was enveloped by warmth, soft and comforting. She smiled even as she closed her eyes in anticipation of the next lash.
This. This is what she craved. The high after the pain. The edge and then toppling over. It was dreamy, smooth, more exotic than anything else she’d ever experienced.
He walked around the front and she opened her eyes. He was nude, his cock stiff and distended. Beautiful. So beautiful. His body was sculpted and molded as if someone had lovingly crafted him by hand. His hair hung wild to his shoulders, unruly, like him. Savage.
She saw a kindred soul when she looked into his eyes. Could he see one in hers? Did he recognize her?
The whip came up and flicked across her belly, not as hard as he’d struck her back, but the shock sent her flinching away. Before she could process the sensation, he flipped his wrist and the whip stung across her right breast, perilously close to her nipple. Then her left breast.
She found herself pushing forward, wanting the contact, her nipples surging, tightening, wanting to feel the kiss of the whip.
He feathered welts in a distinct pattern across her chest and abdomen but always missing her nipples. She panted and then sucked air through her nose. She needed. God, she needed.
The whip went silent, and in the next moment excruciating pain and the most indescribable pleasure assaulted her. Her nipples felt pierced by hot needles. Her eyes flew open and she looked down to see a clamp with vicious little teeth attached to each stiff, distended nipple.
Her entire body burned, an inferno that raged across her welted skin. Arousal was savage within her. If she hadn’t been bound, she would have taken Micah before he could ever take her. It was a need so fierce she felt she might die from it.
As if sensing how close she was to absolute overload, he dropped the whip, stalked forward and threw her legs over his forearms, standing to his full height.
She was spread and draped helplessly over him, and he wasted no time possessing her. He yanked her onto his cock, plunging through her swollen tissues like a hot knife through butter. She enveloped him, swallowed him, welcomed him with every particle of her being.
Over and over his hips slapped against her ass. He fucked her savagely, his features drawn tight in agony. He was hard, brutal even, and still she wanted more.
Power rolled through his big body and bled into each thrust. His cock battered her, ramming without mercy. He yanked her forward even as he stepped into every thrust.
Her arms pulled and stretched. Her muscles burned. Her abused flesh protested his every movement.
Without warning, he dropped her limbs, her feet hitting the floor. She stumbled, her hands flexing as her bonds held her upright.
His hand curled around his engorged cock, nearly purple the skin was stretched so tight at the head. He yanked, aiming at her body.
He directed his release onto her skin. It splattered her breasts and rolled between them down to her belly. It splashed onto her thighs and trickled farther downward.
His. He marked her in the most primitive way he could. She loved the feel of his liquid heat sliding down her skin. She felt empowered. She felt beautiful. She felt like she belonged.
He reached up to untie her hands and she collapsed downward. Instead of catching her, he urged her down to her knees and placed a hand to her forehead to tilt her head back.
With his other hand he guided his still erect cock into her mouth.
“Suck me,” he said huskily.
His taste exploded into her mouth, and she ran her tongue along his length, cleaning every drop of fluid from his skin. He rocked back and forth, stroking her cheek with gentle fingers.
After several moments, he pulled free and let his softening erection drop. There wasn’t a spot on her body that didn’t throb, and she couldn’t control the wince when he helped her to her feet.
He released the clamps from her nipples, and she cried out in agony as feeling rushed hot and wicked back into the tips. He lowered his head and licked gently at each one until the pain lessened to a dull throbbing. Then he raised his head again and kissed her lightly on the lips.
“Let me draw you a bath, Angel girl. You can soak while I fix us dinner.”
The gentleness was back in his voice, and his eyes glowed with ... She swallowed, not wanting to speculate on what he might be feeling. She’d have liked to say love, but he’d never made any pretense of the fact that he was done with love.
CHAPTER 34
A ngelina curled up on the leather couch in one of the sitting rooms of The House and stared out of the window at the lush landscape. They were up on a hill, and the terrain sloped gently down until it met the high iron fence that separated the property from the highway.
Her body still throbbed, but she savored the sensation. She felt utterly content this morning, as if all was right in the world, which was a pretty stupid sentiment given there was some creep out there watching and waiting. It was a testament to how Micah made her feel, though. Safe and cherished. Protected, and yet he didn’t treat her gently. No, he was content to push her to near the breaking point. As she’d known he wouldn’t, however, he hadn’t pushed too far. He’d taken her to the brink and gently pulled her back.
His voice came over the intercom system. “Angelina, come down here.”
There was strength in the command. He expected her to obey. He’d been in Damon’s office most of the morning making phone calls and getting updates.
They still hadn’t talked about Mama Rose or his reaction to finding out she was the woman behind the mask who’d flogged him in the Miami club. Maybe they would talk now?
She rose, her stomach in knots. He’d been so angry the night before, but then he’d been angrier because she left.
When she got to Damon’s office, the door was open and she stepped inside. Micah was sitting behind the desk, leaned back in the chair as he waited for her. To her surprise, Cole was sitting in one of the chairs by the window just to the right of the desk. When had he arrived? Micah must have let him in when she was upstairs dressing.
Her gaze drifted to the left, and she came to an abrupt halt. Her mouth fell open as she stared at the equipment just a few feet away. Specially designed stocks. The highly polished wood told her the stocks were new, and the fur lining the hand and neck holds told her they’d been designed with some comfort in mind, but holy hell. She didn’t need an overly active imagination to figure out their uses.
“Take off your clothes, Angel,” Micah said.
Though she complied immediately with his quietly voiced command, her fingers shook nervously as she pulled at her jeans. Adrenaline jumped through her veins, leaving her flushed—and excited.
She paused at her panties and bra and looked to him for direction. He nodded. “Those too, Angel girl. We want to see you naked.”
Her eyes slanted sideways to look at Cole in her periphery. He was sitting forward in his chair, his gaze lean and hungry.
She slipped out of her underwear and then reached behind her to unclasp the bra. The cups fell forward, and she slowly pulled the straps down her arms and let the bra fall to the floor.
“Come here, Angelina,” Cole said.
She quickly glanced at Micah, and he nodded his permission. She walked over to where Cole sat. As she neared, he leaned back and reached to pull her between his thighs.
His hand slid over her hip and to her back. With gentle force he pushed until she leaned forward, her breast just an inch from hi
s mouth. His lips closed ever so gently over the budding crown of her nipple. He didn’t pull hard or bite. He sucked lightly, his tongue lapping at the point.
She drew in her breath and put her hands on his shoulders to brace herself as he continued to feed gently at her breast. It was slow and sensuous and erotic as hell.
“You taste so good,” he murmured as he pulled away to stare into her eyes. Then he lowered his head once more, to take her other nipple into his mouth. He lapped and kissed, worked the soft flesh between his teeth, but he never exerted any pressure. She moaned and arched into him, seeking more.
The sharp slap on her ass with his open palm startled her.
She looked down into his eyes to see a reprimand glittering in his pale blue orbs.
“What do you think we’re going to do to you today, Angelina?”
She swallowed. “Whatever you’d like.”
He smiled. “Good answer. That’s very true. Micah is being very generous with you. I think he knows how much I desire you. He and I have much in common I’ve found. Though it’s not in my nature to share a woman—I tend to be very possessive—I find that being allowed to fuck another man’s woman is very satisfying. Very, very satisfying.”
He pulled her down onto his lap and cupped her cheek. He was such a contradiction. His actions and words were firm, but every time he touched her, he did so with exquisite care.
“Do you like it when he watches, Angelina?” Cole whispered. “Are you turned on when he gives you to another man, or do you secretly wish he would keep you all to himself?”
“I like to please him,” she replied in an equally soft voice. “I understand him. He understands me. We aren’t threatened by each other’s kinks.”
She turned to look at Micah, seeking confirmation. He stared at her, a warm smile on his face. Open desire reflected in his eyes, but there was also pride.
“Do you see how he looks at you?” Cole asked. His voice lowered as he said the next. “He knows how lucky he is even if he won’t admit it.”
Her breath caught and hung, her lungs squeezing. Cole’s hands smoothed over her belly, rounding the curve of her hips and then sliding up her spine to her nape. He gripped the slim column and massaged before forcing her to his mouth again for a long, breathless kiss.
Then he stood, carrying her with him. For a moment he held her in his arms, and then he let her slide down his body until her feet met the floor.
“Come,” he directed as he started toward the stocks.
Micah continued to watch from the desk, his gaze following her progress across the room. Cole pulled the top up and then gestured for her to get on her knees.
Warily she lowered herself to the floor and eased her head through the opening.
“Hands too,” Cole said.
She placed her wrists in the small cutouts lined with the fake fur. It was soft and nonabrasive against her skin. For that she was grateful. Who knew how long they intended to leave her here?
She gulped when the stocks closed around her neck and hands. She was well and truly trapped until they decided to free her.
“Now that is a pretty sight,” Micah growled.
“Indeed,” Cole murmured. “What would make it prettier is if her ass was a nice shade of red.”
Micah stood and walked around the desk. She glanced up to see him removing his belt. Oh God. Then he disappeared from her view while Cole moved around in front of her.
He reached for his fly, unfastened his jeans and pulled out his cock. Then he got to his knees in front of her.
“Just relax, Angelina. I’m going to fuck your pretty mouth while he marks your ass.”
He put his hand on her forehead and pushed upward so that her mouth was at the angle he wanted, and then he guided his cock past her lips.
“You expect me to be gentle. I won’t be. Not today.”
She closed her eyes and forced herself to give over completely to their authority. She was theirs. Their toy, the receptacle for their pleasure. They would take what they wanted whether she gave it or not.
A loud crack shot over her ears and fire exploded over her ass. She jerked forward, and Cole thrust hard to meet her forward motion.
“Better hope I come quick,” Cole said as he gathered her hair in his hand. “Micah won’t stop with the belt until I’ve come all over your mouth.”
Micah wasn’t easy. God, he wasn’t easy. The pliant leather bit into her flesh, sending a heated buzz sizzling over her ass. She opened her mouth and allowed Cole to fuck her, blanking out, tuning only into the slap of the belt against her ass.
He knew how hard to push. He knew she didn’t want it easy. He, unlike the others, was comfortable with her, knew her limits. He wasn’t afraid to test them. She belonged to him. He didn’t have to worry about stepping over the line like Cole did.
She twisted restlessly, arching, seeking the heat. Micah wasn’t gentle, but then neither was Cole. Cole fucked into her throat with ruthless precision. He timed each thrust with the methodical lashes Micah rained down on her ass.
“Suck me, Angelina,” Cole said harshly. “Use that tongue. Close your lips around me.”
With a groan she forced herself back to awareness. She tightened her mouth around his cock and sucked as he thrust deep. When he paused, she ran her tongue around the flared ridge.
“That’s better,” he murmured. “This is about us today, Angelina. Your only job is to see to our pleasure.”
“Make him come, Angel,” Micah said from behind her. “Your ass is only going to get redder. And then I’m going to fuck it.”
She sucked in air through flared nostrils as her excitement mounted. Their words were crude, raw, nothing loving or tender about them, and she loved it. Loved the power they had to make her crazy.
“Oh yeah,” Cole said as she swallowed against him. “Fuck yeah.”
His hips slapped against her cheeks. The sharp crack of leather rang out. Harder. Faster. Both men worked her over from opposite ends, one with his cock, the other with his belt.
Finally Cole locked her against his body, holding her head tightly as he ejaculated deep in her throat. Warmth flooded her tongue, some of it escaping and running from the corner of her mouth. She swallowed the rest, sucking eagerly as he gave her more.
Before he even withdrew, Micah’s hands parted her ass cheeks, spreading her as his cock bumped impatiently against her anus. In one forceful lunge, he was buried to the balls in her ass.
She shouted around Cole’s cock, and he stroked her cheek with gentle fingers, almost as if he were offering comfort and support as Micah ruthlessly opened her up.
Micah had always been so gentle when he’d taken her ass. Slow and leisurely. Now he took her without mercy, his cock sawing in and out of her ass with frantic, rapid pumps.
Touch me. Oh God, please touch me.
Cole withdrew, but he stayed close, his fingers idly caressing her cheek as Micah fucked her ass. He made no effort to wipe the cum from her mouth, and she could feel his gaze on her, looking at the evidence of his possession.
After a moment, he held his cock up again. It was semi-erect and his fluids mixed with her saliva gleamed on his skin.
“Lick it clean,” he ordered huskily as he wiped the tip over her mouth.
She opened to him and carefully licked and sucked, covering every inch of his dick. He thrust slowly, allowing himself to linger as she laved the broad head.
Then he pulled away and stood. He stepped from her view, but she knew he watched as Micah fucked her.
Micah’s fingers curled into her hips. He slid his hands up to her waist and held tight as he slammed his hips against her ass. Over and over. It was a test of her endurance because he had incredible staying power.
She closed her eyes and waited. She wanted to beg him to touch her. Just once. It was all she needed, but she wouldn’t fail him in front of Cole.
His movements became more urgent. His hands tightened around her and he pumped frantically into her.
Then suddenly he yanked out.
“Spread her,” Micah said hoarsely.
Cole’s hands cupped her ass and, to her shock, spread her cheeks, holding her open. Micah moaned low in his throat and then she felt the hot wash of his semen spill into her ass. It splattered onto her back, slipping down her crack, but most was directed directly into her opening.
Wow. Her entire body trembled. She closed her eyes to ward off her impending orgasm, but it was completely out of her control. As soon as Micah dipped his cock back into her ass, sealing the fluid inside, she came apart.
Her knees shook and she bucked as he fucked her with long, deep strokes. Her nerve endings shrieked, and pleasure spilled sweet and unrelenting into her veins. The wave traveled her entire body, until the world blurred around her.
Her head fell forward, her jaw clenched so tight her teeth ached. Micah went still against her, and she felt the heaving of his belly as he leaned into her. He was still buried in her ass, and he remained there a long moment. Then he kissed her back. Just one gentle brush. And he withdrew.
“Are you hungry?” Micah asked Cole in a casual voice.
“I could eat.”
What? They were talking about food at a time like this? Her entire body was in shutdown mode. She’d shed her skin at least twice already.
“I have leftover pizza in the fridge.”
Their voices grew dimmer, and she realized they’d left her. Cum dripped from her chin and seeped down the inside of her thigh. Her pussy throbbed and pulsed from her orgasm. But she was powerless to move.
With a resigned sigh, she closed her eyes and waited for them to return.
* * *
She felt the vibration of their footsteps before she heard them enter the room. Her head came up, and her senses came alive. Amazing that as soon as Micah returned, her body responded. Fatigue was gone, and in its place arousal hummed through her body.
Without a word, with no warning at all, a thick cock slid into her ass. She gasped in surprise. Cole. He stroked in and out, silent, almost brooding. Then he simply pulled out and moved away.
