by Ivy Barrett
He suddenly grasped her chin and turned her face up toward his. “Don’t lie to me. I won’t stand for it. I will never lie to you, but I expect honesty in return.”
His sudden aggression was so out of character, a chill slid down her spine. Where was his sexy smile and practiced charm? Open hunger burned in his eyes, making the green brighter and the black seem endless.
“All right. I’m sorry.” She slid his fingers off her chin and eased his hand away. “I’ve never been spanked. I’ve never done any of this.” Everywhere she looked, someone was restrained, many contorted into positions that had to be incredibly uncomfortable. People were being spanked, flogged, even caned. Nipples were clipped and cocks were encased in straps and studded leather. Cocks pushed into eager pussies, wet mouths and well-lubed asses. Pleasure came in every gender, size and color combination. Tamara had never imagined anything so decadent, yet it all blended together in an ever-changing kaleidoscope of lust.
“There.” Jericho pointed to an area slightly to their left. “Watch just that scene for a moment and tell me what you see.”
The woman was bound in an elaborate harness and suspended in midair. Her arms and legs were spread, leaving her completely accessible to the Pleasure Master. A heavy-looking chain connected the loops piercing the woman’s nipples, tugging and teasing each time she jerked or twisted. The Pleasure Master said something to her and she struggled against the straps, but anticipation tensed her features and narrowed her gaze.
“Is she enjoying what he’s doing to her or do you believe her cries for mercy?”
“No, she wants what he’s giving her. Each time he looks away, her expression changes. She doesn’t want him to realize just how much she’s enjoying being at his mercy.”
Jericho moved in close, pressing against her back as his arm wrapped around her waist. “Is that what you were expecting, to be taken over completely, to be at my mercy?” The Pleasure Master picked up a dildo from the nearby tray and showed it to the woman. They spoke in hushed, anxious tones, but Tamara couldn’t make out their words. “She wants his cock,” Jericho whispered. “She’s begging him to take her, but he’s chosen a toy instead. What would make him withhold what she wants most? He’s denying himself pleasure in the process.”
“She must have disobeyed him or displeased him in some way.” The Pleasure Master trailed his fingers across the woman’s body as he moved behind her. Tamara could see his face for the first time and the emotion in his gaze surprised her. Even with the upper half of his face concealed by a hooded mask, his sadness and disappointment were obvious. “He cares for her, genuinely cares.”
“That’s the problem with pleasure givers. If they allow themselves to feel, they leave themselves open to hurt over and over. So most turn off their emotions and separate their soul from their bodies as they do their job. It leaves them broken.” The sensual warmth left his voice and his arm loosened, though he didn’t release her.
The Pleasure Master positioned the toy, but Tamara couldn’t tell if he was about to push it into the woman’s pussy or ass. The woman cried out and shuddered. Her breasts quivered and the chain connecting her nipples danced against her ribs.
“That isn’t what I had planned for you, but is that what you need?” Jericho’s hand crept up, his thumb teasing the underside of her breast. “Do you want me to Master you, to demand complete obedience without hesitation or thought?”
“No.” She answered automatically as she watched the helpless woman twist and sway. Yet temptation took root, revealing the woman from a new perspective. She floated, lost in a world of carnal bliss. The chain continually moved her piercings, stimulating her tightly puckered nipples. The harness supported her while it restricted her movements, holding her as securely as the tightest embrace. Tamara could almost feel the smooth slide of the toy and her pussy clenched then pulsed with sudden need.
“Are you sure?” Jericho chuckled as he stepped to her side then led her deeper into the maze.
His arm remained around her, resting at the small of her back, fingers splayed against her side. “Where are we going?” Had her interest in the restrained woman made him change his strategy? She’d given him two hours. That wasn’t a lot of time, or was it? Her body was already wet and aching, and he hadn’t even touched her intimately yet.
Without answering her question, he led her to one of the small, curtained-off areas lining the open room. At least the fabric barrier would give them the illusion of privacy. This isn’t real. It doesn’t matter how loud you moan or how many funny faces you make. No one will see you… No one but Jericho.
He closed the privacy curtain, which softened the light and dampened the noises coming off the main floor. She looked around confused yet intrigued. There wasn’t even a bed, just two smooth poles surrounded by a thick padded mat.
“This room is the first stop for most visitors, especially those escorted by Pleasure Masters.”
“Were you ever a Pleasure Master?” The absolute lack of emotion in his tone or expression made the question irresistible.
“Your window into my past will be opened by your willingness to surrender.”
“Surrender? I didn’t realize we were at war.” She smiled, trying to lighten his mood. He was taking this all way too seriously.
“We are not at war.” His expression didn’t change. If anything it grew more intense. “You’re emotionally guarded. You’ve never had anyone in your life who you could count on, so you keep yourself distanced, protected from possible hurt.”
“You know me so well after sharing one meal with me?”
“I knew you that well after looking into your eyes the first time.” He took her by the hand and led her toward the poles, but his gaze lingered on her face. “It’s my business to anticipate the needs of others. It’s made me a damn good judge of character.”
She didn’t argue with him. His assessment of her character was pretty accurate. She didn’t think she deserved the “emotionally guarded” label, but it did take her a long time to trust anyone. It was this inability to trust that had resulted in her virginal state. “If we aren’t at war, then to whom or what shall I surrender?”
“Yourself. You’re a passionate woman, capable of great emotional depth, but you have to be willing to make yourself vulnerable. Your logical, protective mind must surrender to your elemental need for affection. For pleasure.” He added the last with a challenging smile and let go of her hand. She stood between the poles fully dressed and still a bit confused. “I could bind you to the poles and explore your body as I like, but that would make things too easy. You need to offer yourself willingly.”
She licked her lips, already feeling exposed. “Isn’t that what I did when I came in here with you?”
“Lower loops.” She didn’t understand his response until slits opened in the poles about two feet above her head and leather loops slowly extended. “You’ll slip your hands through the loops and hold on. The loops will not tighten. You will be able to pull free at any time, which means you will be my willing captive, your body freely offered for my pleasure—and yours.”
Her gaze shifted from one loop to the other as her mind imagined all the things they could do while she stood there holding those loops. She’d never had a lover, much less allowed someone else to command her. She’d never dreamed that life would lead her here, to this tantalizing crossroads. Jericho was the personification of her secret fantasies, the proverbial bad boy no female could resist. She could trust him to awaken her carnality, or continue on in emotional limbo.
She wanted this, needed it. And not just so she’d understand what attracted people to the Dark Star. Being around Jericho made her bold, made her long for more than her overly structured, emotionally muted, often predictable life. She took a deep breath and reached for the loops.
“Not yet.” Jericho clasped his hands behind his back and grinned. “You can’t take hold of the loops unless you’re naked.”
Chapter Four
&n
bsp; Tamara crossed her arms over her chest and stared past him, obviously uncomfortable with his directive. Jericho fought back the urge to reassure her, to pull her into his arms and feel her snuggle against his chest as she’d done in his office. She needed this release on so many levels, but she had to take the first step alone.
“Can’t you dim the lights or—”
“No.”
Her gaze snapped back to his. Irritation made her irises appear more purple than blue and his chest tightened. God she was beautiful. “Are you going to undress too?”
“Not right now.” Summoning the control he’d mastered through years of discipline, he moved closer without touching her. “You asked for a glimpse inside the Dark Star. If this is too much for you, we don’t have to continue.”
Just as he’d expected, her chin came up and she uncrossed her arms. “I’m not afraid. I just don’t understand why I have to—”
“I’m not going to argue with you. You said you’d obey. If you’ve changed your mind, we’ll end the simulation and I’ll go back to work.”
Spirit gleamed even brighter within her gaze and she kicked off her shoes. She unbuckled the thin golden belt at her waist and unzipped her pants. The matching jacket had been absent when he arrived with the dinner cart, and her hardened nipples were visible beneath her silk blouse. She unbuttoned her blouse, but left it on as she took off her pants. He held out his hand when she looked around for a place to put them. Her blouse followed and then she hesitated again.
“All of it.” She looked lovely in the ivory lacy underwear, but this was about surrender.
She unfastened the bra and averted her gaze as she handed it to him. Her breasts weren’t large, but they were firm and her lush pink nipples contrasted nicely with the honey tones in her skin. After another pause, she wiggled out of her panties and tossed them in his general direction. She still wasn’t looking at him. He opened the curtain just wide enough to hand the bundle to a passing attendant.
“What will they do with my clothes? I’d like them back at some point.”
“I’ll ask the attendant to return them when we’re ready to go.”
After accepting his explanation with a stiff nod, she caught her lower lip between her teeth and raised her arms. She slipped her hands through the loops and grasped the leather then looked into his eyes. Despite her surges of spirit, she was afraid. Still, he’d only begun to unravel the cause.
A warning tingled deep inside his being. Was it possible she was still a virgin? It seemed highly unlikely, but he trusted his instincts enough to ask. “You have had sex before haven’t you?”
She rolled her eyes, then glared at him. “Don’t be insulting. Am I that unattractive?”
He walked around her in a slow, assessing circle, gaze moving up and down. Her trim waist created a distinct indentation before the womanly flare of her hips. Long, supple legs hinted at regular exercise and her nicely rounded ass would fit perfectly in the palms of his hands.
“You certainly have nothing to be ashamed of, sweetheart.” He completed the circle and drew his gaze back to her face. “If this isn’t new to you, why were you so reluctant to undress?”
“Everything about this is designed to make me feel vulnerable. You can’t be surprised when it works.”
“Fair enough.” He lightly stroked the underside of her arm, just the barest touch of his fingertips to establish a physical connection. “Would you like to know what I see when I look at you?”
“Probably not, but I suspect you’re going to tell me anyway.”
“How’d you guess?” He repeated the caress on the other side, bringing their bodies even closer. He reached behind her and unfastened the large barrette. Her hair spilled free and he arranged the soft waves around her face and across her shoulders. “Your hair is lovely. You should wear it down more often.”
“It makes me look younger and my job is easier when my students don’t see me as a peer.”
Tucking the strands behind her ears, he turned his attention to her face. “Your skin begs to be touched. Even from a distance it looks soft.” He followed the contour of her cheek, circled the outer rim of her ear then gently raised her face as he slid his fingers toward her chin. “And your eyes—unique and vibrant yet incredibly expressive.”
“Which is a nice way of saying I wear my heart on my sleeve?”
He smiled. It was surprisingly difficult to give her a compliment. He traced her lips with his thumb, easing inside, hoping she’s nip at him or touch him with her tongue. She just stared at him, tense and silent. He shifted his thumb to her chin and leaned in, watching her eyes as their faces neared. At the last moment her lids shut and a soft sigh escaped from between her lips.
Brushing his lips back and forth over hers, he waited for her reaction. Her lower lip trembled and she didn’t turn away, but she was motionless, unresponsive. He kissed the corners of her mouth, determined not to frighten her.
His assertive nature balked and bucked, desperate to claim her. But she needed to know she could trust him before he unleashed his sexual dominance.
“I never go where I’m not welcome,” he whispered against her lips.
She made a soft sound part whimper, part cry. Then her head tilted and her lips parted. He slid his lips over hers and she echoed the motion. His hand slipped into her hair and adjusted the angle of her head. He hadn’t meant the move to be aggressive, but she gasped then shivered.
Her body tensed and he waited for her to pull away. Instead she arched, pressing her breasts against his chest as her tongue lightly traced his lower lip. Understanding slammed into him and his fingers tightened in her hair. Holding back was counterproductive. She needed his aggression as much as he needed to be aggressive. He took control of the kiss, sealing his lips over hers while his tongue pushed into her mouth.
The kiss took on a life of its own as her tongue curled around his. He wrapped his arm around her, drawing her flush with his body. Suddenly his clothes felt oppressive. He wanted to feel her, skin to skin, feel the urgent grind of her pussy against his thigh.
Not yet! He had to slow down. But her taste was addictive and her response spiked his arousal, threatening his control. He wanted to free his aching cock and wrap her legs around his waist. Was she wet enough to take him?
He tore his mouth away from hers, panting harshly against her cheek. “That’s more like it.” He eased his upper body back while keeping their lower bodies aligned. “Can you feel how hard you’ve made me?” She nodded, her gaze locked with his. “Are you wet?” Again a nod was her only reply. “I want to be inside you so bad I can hardly breathe, but I need something else from you first.”
“What?” Her voice sounded breathless and urgent, which only made it that much harder for him to resist temptation.
Staring deep into her eyes he squeezed her breast, his thumb lightly rubbing her nipple. “I want to watch you come.”
“I don’t think I can if you’re just standing there watching.”
He bent and sucked, leaving her nipple wet and puckered as he said, “Let’s find out.” He returned to her breast and teased with his lips and tongue. When she squirmed beneath his mouth, he caught the tip between his teeth, applying gradual pressure. Her distressed yelp made him release, but he only moved to her other breast.
Her hips began a telltale rocking as she rubbed against his thigh. He eased his hand between their bodies and curved his fingers over her mound. For a long moment he just touched her while his mouth lavished attention on her breasts.
“How are you doing this?” Her thighs shook and her abdomen quivered.
He raised his head and stared deep into her eyes. “Show me.” His middle finger pushed between her folds and he groaned. She felt warm against his palm, but her crease enfolded his finger in liquid heaven. He found her clit and flicked it with his fingertip. She bucked her hips, trying to bring his caress back in contact with the sensitive bud. He circled her, loving the way her clit twitched beneath the pa
d of his finger. “Come for me.”
Her lashes lowered, but she didn’t close her eyes. She moved with the motion of his finger, lips parted, nipples hard. “In me,” she whispered. “I need something to squeeze.”
Reluctant to lose the press of her soft body, he moved back far enough to maneuver his hand between her thighs. “Like this?” He pushed two fingers into her wet pussy and watched pleasure ignite within her eyes. She was tight around his fingers, really tight. How long had it been since her last lover?
The thought evaporated as she rocked her hips, her inner muscles rippling. Rather than fuck her with his hand, he let her ride his fingers. He passed his thumb over her clit at the apex of each stroke and felt her core tighten in response. Her beasts bounced and her eyes burned. She was abandoned and beautiful, even more amazing than he’d imagined.
He felt her presence brush against his mind and nearly lost his rhythm. Her touch was weak and unskilled, almost involuntary. Rather than distract her with a response, he opened for her, offering his psychic energy as he often did with weakened mystics. Her being latched on and drew long, hungry pulls across their fragile link. The sudden withdrawal made him shiver, but he remained open and let her feed.
Suddenly she thrust so hard her feet nearly left the mat. A strangled cry escaped her throat and her body arched. Her pussy rippled and squeezed as she lost herself in pleasure. Her eyes burned like purple flames, gleaming yet unfocused. He’d never seen anything so beautiful.
He stroked her clit, prolonging her orgasm as his balls ached for release. Her presence slipped from his mind, receding with the pleasure. He watched her face, searching for any hint that she had fed from him intentionally. Did his enigmatic guest even realize she was a mystic?
Tamara returned to reality gradually. Her eyes refocused and she found herself staring into Jericho’s smoldering gaze. “That was amazing.” His fingers were still inside her and his thumb kept launching little aftershocks of sensation. “I’ve never come that hard before.”
