by T. L. Reeve
“Well, maybe it’s the best news ever for you. The jury is still out for me.”
“When are you going back to the club? I want to be there to support you.” Harley took Quin’s hand. “You don’t have to do this alone like last time. We’ll be here to help you.”
We being Charlie and her.
“Again, we didn’t get too deep into what he expected of me or anything,” she answered while his words trailed through her mind. When you greet me at the club, you should be kneeling for me, because the desire to please me overrides all your doubts.
“I’ll talk to Charlie and tell him to give you guys some space.” Harley shrugged.
“Yeah, right now, we don’t need space. We need to figure out what the hell we’re going to do about Joaquin’s brother.”
***
For the rest of the week, they did nothing but work on finding the missing money. Rafael de la Fuente had disappeared, which didn’t surprise Joaquin at all. But, right now, he couldn’t concentrate on work. He had a sweet little sub who needed his full attention. Walking down the short hall, he stopped at the women’s locker room and waited for Quin. Tonight, he wouldn’t play too hard with her. She needed reassurance. She needed to trust him. Two pulse-pounding, sensual kisses, which left them desperate for each other didn’t fix any of her issues.
She appeared, wearing the black silk robe and kitten heels he’d left for her, hands trembling as she wiped them down the front of her robe. “Are you ready for your lesson tonight?”
She nodded. “I’m quite nervous. I feel as though I’ll disappoint you.”
Joaquin grabbed her chin between his thumb and forefinger, tilting her head up so their gazes met. “Remember, you’re giving your doubts and fears over to me. You will only fail me if you don’t try.”
Quin let out a shaky breath. “I remember. So what are we doing tonight?”
“Tonight is about trust.” He held out his hand “I’ve also decided you won’t do a scene in public until you are ready.”
“Okay,” she replied taking his hand.
“Good. Since you don’t mind being blindfolded or tied up, I have planned something I think is perfect for you this evening. Would you like to know what I will be doing to you?” If they’d been able to talk about wax play, he’d have alternated between the hot wax and the freezing ice. It would keep her off balance and open her up to his touch. But, since they hadn’t….
“No, I trust you to keep me safe,” she answered without hesitation. “Will we have fun?”
“Oh, yes. We’ll be having tons of fun.” He ran his thumb across her jaw. The pulse at her neck quickened, ratcheting up his need to dominate the woman in front of him.
They strolled hand in hand down the hall, then up the stairs to the second floor of the club. His room had sat empty for almost a year. He’d taken to playing with subs in public, then leaving the club after making sure they were okay. Not something he was proud of, but the subs never complained. Even if the settings weren’t intimate, he treasured their submission, just not in the ways they might have expected or hoped for. For the first time in a long time, Joaquin found himself wanting to share his space with a woman, but not just any woman. Quin. He wanted her to experience a memorable night, even if she didn’t believe it would happen again—which he planned on addressing later.
When they came to his door, he paused and looked down at her. “Once we step inside this room, our session begins. I expect you to call me Master and to use your safe word if we do something out of your comfort zone or I hurt you, understand?”
“Yes, Master,” she whispered.
“What is your safe word, Quin?”
“Tapioca,” she answered.
“Interesting.” He grinned. “Tapioca it is.” He opened the door and gave Quin a moment to look around. “Go on in. You’ll notice my room is more like a bedroom than a playroom.” Along the back wall on a raised platform lay his custom-made king-size bed. He loved having the ability to stretch out while also cuddling with someone. The innocuous-looking dressers hid his toys and the equipment he enjoyed using with the right sub. An en suite bathroom sat behind the door to the left.
Her steps were cautious, at first. Her fingers drifted over different pieces of furniture he’d added over the years. When she reached the suspension beam, she paused. Was she remembering the first night she’d spent with him, watching Master Yuri? The question rested on the tip of his tongue, but he waited. Quin stopped in front of the large bed and stared at it.
“I’m ready, Master,” she said while pulling on the sash holding her robe closed. It fell from her shoulders in a cascade of silk at the same moment she went to her knees, presenting herself to him.
The low light shimmered off her creamy flesh. Her hair, pulled back in a braid, lay flat to her back, drawing his eye to the dimples at the small of her back. He wanted to lick her there. Nibble on the supple flesh until she cried out and begged for more. Walking around her, Joaquin trailed his fingers over her skin and she shivered. “Spread your legs just a little more. I want to see your cunt.”
She wiggled opening herself. Her labia glistened with cream, and her clit peeked out from its hood, beckoning him to taste her.
“So pretty. Stand up, and step toward me. Eyes down, and your hands behind your back.”
Quin obeyed. When she stopped in front of him, he tipped her chin up. He dipped his head and captured her lips in a soft, sensual kiss. His tongue swiped against hers, coaxing out the submissive person she buried deep inside her. He feasted on her, nibbling and sucking on her bottom lip until she whimpered. “Please,” she whispered, drawing his bottom lip between her teeth.
“First,” he said, pulling back from her. “Say thank you.”
She swallowed hard and licked her lips. “Thank you, Master.”
“You’re welcome, my sweet girl. Kiss me again and, this time, I want you to begin undressing me.” She started with his tie, and he stopped her. “Wait a minute,” he crooned. “I haven’t told you all of the instructions. There is a coat hanger to your right. I want you place my jacket, tie, and shirt on it. Leave my pants on, but remove my socks and shoes. Understand?”
“Yes, Master.” With a quick nod, she kissed him again while her hands worked the knot of his tie, removing it first. Ending the kiss, Quin sashayed over to the coat rack and deposited the tie then hurried back to him. Twice more, she kissed him while she removed his clothes before going to her knees to untie his shoes and remove his socks.
“Such an obedient sub. I believe you’ve earned a reward for doing as I requested.” He crooked his finger at her and widened his legs before pulling down the zipper of his pants. “Your reward for doing such a good job is to suck my dick.” Her eyes dilated, and the scent of her arousal curled around him. His cock, still hidden within his slacks, pulsed with need. “Pull me out then wait for your next instructions.”
“Yes, Master.” So trusting. She was a natural.
She reached into his pants and gripped the length of his cock, fishing him out. “I want you to lick me from my balls to my tip, then take the crest into your mouth and suck. I’ll tell you when to take more of my dick into your mouth. Okay?”
She nodded.
“Words.”
“Yes, Master.”
“Get to it. Don’t waste another moment of our time.”
Chapter Six
Nothing compared to the anticipation coursing through her. Quin sucked the head of Joaquin’s cock, savoring the salty yet musky essence slipping from the tip. A part of her still wondered if she would she lose herself again. Would you quit it? What possible reason could you have for beating yourself up? Can’t you just let go? She called her worries fifty shades of stupid, hopped up on a drug-induced high.
Yet, when she looked up at him, waiting for instructions—and when he brushed his fingers across her cheeks, crooning her name—her heart fluttered and her pussy quivered. No matter how much she told herself she shouldn’t be there, s
he couldn’t think of one logical excuse of why she had to leave. In his arms, she could be brave and safe. In his arms, she could conquer the world.
Yet, fear still ruled her. Day after day, for six months she’d sat at home and denied herself any pleasure, taking to heart Tony’s vile words and etching them into the gray matter of her brain. You’re not good enough and you never will be. But, in this room with Joaquin, she began to doubt every word Tony uttered.
“That’s my girl.” Joaquin’s strained voice made her heart skip a beat. “Take a little more. I’ll tell you when to stop.” She opened for him, allowing his length to slide past her lips until he told her to hold. “Get me nice and wet, preciósa.”
Quin laved the crown of his cock, paying special attention to the slit before curling her tongue around the sensitive tissue. He sucked in a breath and fisted his hand in her hair. Sparks of electricity coursed through her, sending impulses of pleasure so intense straight to her clit, she cried out. At his request, she bobbed her head, not going any farther than he instructed. Her heart crashed against her ribs as each new sensation, made her clit to throb and her pussy to flex in expectancy. Nothing had ever felt so right in her life. If she could capture it in a bottle and bring it home with her so she could experience it over and over again, she would. Although she’d promised him six weeks, every time couldn’t be this intense.
Joaquin slipped from her mouth and stuffed himself back into his pants, zipping them up. Her body sagged. As special as she thought the moment had been, he didn’t seem to agree. Her gaze lowered, and she tried to keep the disappointment at bay. He grabbed her upper arm and lifted her from floor. Worry swamped her, followed closely by self-recrimination. She replayed the scene over in her mind, trying to figure out what she’d done wrong to make him stop.
“There you go again, getting stuck in your head.” His words broke through the fog of her mind and made her blink.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, glancing down at the floor.
“I know what you’re thinking, Quin. You need to stop.” He lifted her chin so he held her gaze while his thumb caressed her cheek. “I know it’s easy for me to say right now, because we’ve never worked together before, but you’ve got to try to let go.”
His velvety-smooth words wrapped around her, cocooning her in their warmth. “I’ll try,” she answered. “Will you explain why we stopped?”
He didn’t answer her right away. Instead he guided her back to the chair and sat down, then pulled her into his arms. “Tell me what you were expecting, Quin.”
“Well, I thought you wanted me to finish. Till you orgasmed.” She admonished herself about being so timid with her words.
“So, in your mind, you decided I wanted a needy hole to fill with cum, and you were within reach?”
Quin winced. When he said it out loud, it sounded crude. What did he hope to accomplish?
“It’s about mutual gratification, sweetheart. Something I don’t think you’ve ever enjoyed.”
He ran the tips of his fingers through her slit and gathered up her cream. His middle finger rubbed her clit while he continued to stroke through her folds. A low moan passed her lips. “Master,” she whispered, “shouldn’t I be servicing you?”
“You already are.”
“I don’t understand, Master.”
“You’ve given over to me, done as I’ve asked. There is nothing sweeter than your capitulation,” he answered while continuing to manipulate her clitoris. “Whether or not I spill my seed down your throat or in your pussy isn’t the point.”
“I’m so confused.” She groaned in frustration.
Joaquin’s chuckle vibrated through her and she shivered. “I get off on watching you do as I say. To know you trust me to guide you. Did I want to come down your hot little throat? Yes. But those are my baser needs.”
“So neither one of us are going to get off?” she asked.
“We’re just beginning.” A salacious grin tugged at the corner of his lips. Her tummy fluttered. “I thought tonight we’d tackle your impact play list, since you said you’d like to try it in small increments.”
Uncertainty filled her, but she pushed it aside. “All right, what did you have in mind?”
“You’ve been spanked before, correct?”
“Yes,” she answered.
“With a hand or instrument?”
“Hand, why?”
“Let me worry about the why. For now,” he said, before licking his fingers. “I want you to stand up and move over to the cross.”
Quin bit her lip and hesitated for a second. She knew Joaquin wouldn’t hurt her, but a little niggle of doubt raced through her. She stood on wobbly legs and staggered to the cross. The intimidating piece of equipment loomed over her. Joaquin didn’t have to yell. He didn’t have to coerce her. He told her what he wanted and she did it.
It scared her even more in some ways, because he didn’t use harsh words or brute force. “I thought I’d introduce you to my flogger tonight.” He ran the soft leather down her back.. “As you can see it’s not stiff, nor is it harsh to the touch. I had it made for me.” He stuffed the handle into his back pocket and held out his hand. “Let’s get you strapped in.”
He closed his hand around hers, wrapped the soft cuff around her wrist, and buckled it. He did the same to her right hand, then moved on to her ankles. His fingertips caressed her flesh, steadying her. Nervous butterflies built in her belly. Joaquin stared at her, then brushed his lips across her shoulder. “You’re safe, Quin. I promise,” he whispered, before disappearing behind her. “Remember your safe word.”
“I will.”
The slide of butter-soft leather across the crease of her ass, then up her spine sent a shiver of longing through her. Anticipation and tension clung to the air in a thick, heavy blanket surrounding her. Her heart pounded, and her palms were clammy. On one hand she wished he didn’t tease her, but on the other, she was grateful he gave her time to get used to his touch. When the first slap of the leather strips came down on her ass, Quin jumped and yelped, startled by how gentle the tap had been. Warmth bloomed, and radiated outward until he struck the flesh again in a different spot, heightening the heat spreading outward.
At his groan she glanced around, breath hitching at his heavy-lidded eyes. He dragged the tip over her hip and settled it on the other cheek. He smacked her ass twice more, this time harder, stinging. She moaned his name, pushing back toward him, and when the leather kissed her flesh, a pleasure-filled shudder worked through her.
All of her questions floated away. Her clit throbbed. Her pussy grew slick with arousal as Joaquin continued to dish out his brand of play. When he stopped, every nerve ending in her body tingled and any little touch increased the pleasure coursing through her. Joaquin caressed her ass, squeezing it as he stepped up behind her and rubbed his erection against her. “Why did you stop?”
“To tease you,” he whispered, pressing a kiss to the back of her shoulder. He wrapped his right arm around her waist and traced her hip, then dipped down farther to her pussy. “It’s part of the scene. And, I wanted to play with this slick, hot cunt of yours again.” His fingers slipped between her thighs and grazed her slit.
“Master.…”
“Very nice. You’re soaked, preciósa.” He rubbed her clit with his middle finger. “Your clit is hard and swollen. Would you like to come?”
She swallowed hard. “P-please.”
“So polite.” Wrapping his other arm around her, he tweaked her nipple as he filled her with his fingers. She gasped his name and a growl of pleasure passed his lips. He worked her nub with his thumb while he fingered her. “So fucking tight, too. How long has it been, sweetheart?”
“Uh….” Ten months. Four months prior to Tony uncollaring her, he stopped having sex with her. It should have been her clue he was seeing someone else.
“Where did you go?” Joaquin pulled his fingers from her but continued to pet and play with her, keeping her on edge.
> “It’s been a long time,” she whispered. “Almost a year.” He came around to stand in front her, and she tried to hide her face from him. “Tony didn’t think I was worthy enough to have sex with him.”
“What?”
She cringed. “He said—”
“I heard what you said,” he said, blowing out a breath. The anger in his voice bled out. “I dislike this Tony person.”
She looked up into his lust filled gunmetal-gray eyes, and swore she saw something more there. Affection, perhaps, or maybe it was wishful thinking on her part. He cupped her cheek and ran his thumb over her bottom lip before a sinful smirk played on his lips.
“Are you ready for more?” Five simple words, strung together to ask a basic question.
“Yes.” She didn’t hesitate with him. She didn’t have to ponder his questions. Joaquin was straightforward. He wanted to continue with her.
“Good.” He took his place behind her once more and picked the flogger up again. The leather tips ran down the backs of her thighs and between her legs, teasing her pussy. Quin pushed back toward him, wiggling her ass in silent plea for more. She grew braver by the second as trust bloomed inside her. “This time, I’m going to go at you a little harder. It’s going to sting, and your ass will be red, but I’ll make it all better.” The deep timbre of his voice vibrated through her body, reawaking the simmering need inside her.
Before she could say she understood, the strips landed against her ass, and heat radiated from the spot. She absorbed the sting until it transformed into something else, something decadent. Her clit pulsed, and her sex clenched. Juices slipped from her folds as he struck again, this time over her shoulders. Quin cried out. Although it hurt, the pleasure she experienced overrode the pain, leaving her an achy mess.
This time, when he stepped up behind her and wrapped his arm around her, his fingernails scored her tender nipple. She sucked in a breath. Blissed out of her mind she wiggled, needing more. Wanting more. “Please,” she whimpered. Her release built deep inside her, tightening her belly muscles. “I need.”
