Strictly Yours: Hooded Pleasures, Book 3

by Sheryl Nantus

  What happened?

  Was it something Evan said to him?

  Does he know something he’s not telling me about?

  He reached for the check before she could, his expression leaving no room for negotiation.

  “Thank you.” She dabbed at the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “So now what do you want to do?”

  Jen wasn’t prepared for the smoldering lust in his stare. “What do you think I want to do?” He rolled his shoulders back and she saw him naked in her mind’s eye, standing strong and proud as he’d done so many times before.

  Except this time it was for her, not for Danielle.

  She felt her cheeks burn, the sudden rush of desire in her belly startling her. “You need to go home. Get some sleep. You’ve got to go to work tonight.”

  “So do you,” he replied. “But we need to talk, and we can’t do it here.” Nathan reached over and took her hand. “Come back to my place. Please.”

  She gasped at the heated touch, her heart racing. “It’s not Sunday. It’s not—”

  “Come be with me as Jennifer. Not Danielle, never Danielle again.” His voice dropped to a low rumbling, the vibration sending her heart into overdrive. “Come be mine, only mine. Let me take care of you as only I can.”

  “I can’t.” The words grated against her soul. “My contract—”

  “No.” Nathan jerked his head to one side. “I can’t do this anymore. I can’t be one of many. I can’t do that. I’ll protect you because I love you but this arrangement is over.” He paused. “I’m going to call and cancel my contract.”

  “But—” Her mind was running a thousand miles a minute, juggling words and emotions like a crazed circus clown car. “If you do that, I can’t see you.”

  “You can’t see me as a client.” His grip increased. “You can see me as a man. Your man, if you’ll let me.” He swallowed hard. “I’ll see this to the end because I’m a cop and it’s a part of me I can’t deny, can’t turn off. But there’s another part of me that I have to listen to. My heart. And it’s telling me we can’t go back to the way it was before, no matter how this turns out.”

  Jen slumped back in her chair.

  He’s right.

  We crossed that line, and there’s no going back.

  “I told Wendy I wasn’t going to let Tanner, or whoever’s doing this, dictate my actions.” She stumbled through the logic, forcing herself down the verbal trail. “I can’t change that right now and make myself a liar.”

  “This isn’t about him. This is about you and me. It comes down to a simple question.” Nathan locked eyes with her, the burning gaze scorching her thoughts. “Do you want me or not? If not, then I’ll run this to the end as a cop and do the best by you that I can. But I’ll have to leave, then, because I can’t stand the idea of sharing you with anyone else. Or—”

  He paused and she saw the need rising in his expression, the urge to drop to his knees in front of her, in front of everyone if that’s what it took to win her over.

  “Let me be yours. Let me be your protector, your safe place to fall. Let me be who I am, what I am for you and you alone.”

  She bit her lower lip, using the pain to focus her thoughts. “This isn’t the right time to talk about this. It isn’t—”

  “If not now, when?” He swept his hand at the front window of the diner. “You said you won’t change who you are and what you’re doing out of fear. But it’s already changed you, changed us. It’s already happened, and now we’re trying to figure out what road to take.” He dug in the inside pocket of his jacket and came up with a small blue plastic bag, which he placed on the table between them.

  Jen didn’t have to open it to know what was inside. She knew the size and shape of the item intimately.

  His leather collar.

  “I can’t wear this again unless I know I’m the only one who’s going to be yours. I can’t.” He stood suddenly and pulled out his wallet.

  “Let me know what you decide. The guard HP put on you is outside. He’ll make sure you get home safe.” Nathan placed the bills on the table. “You were right about this place. Fantastic food—but you can’t eat here too often or you won’t be able to stop.”

  He turned and headed for the door.

  Jen watched him, her mouth dry.

  What the—

  Marcy came over. “Everything okay here?” She looked at Nathan’s retreating back. “He seemed in a rush.”

  “Everything’s fine.” Jen reached out and curled her fingers around the plastic bag. “Everything’s going to be okay.”

  * * * * *

  You did it now, his inner voice screamed. You totally screwed this up.

  He fumbled with the key to his car, trying hard not to glare at the private investigator parked nearby.

  Evan was right.

  He couldn’t keep on imagining their relationship was the same or could revert back to what it’d been. As soon as she’d given her real name and let him into her life, the equations had changed and there was no reversal possible.

  Nathan slid in behind the wheel and jammed the key in the ignition.

  Damned good food.

  He drove home, feeling the anger seep out of him as if someone had punctured him with a sharp pin. The endorphin rush of staying on watch, mixed with Evan’s observations and the last meeting with Jen had finally eased into mental and physical exhaustion.

  It took the last of his energy to pull into his driveway and head up the steps. A fast sweep of the area showed no one out of place, no one waiting to pounce on him.

  Good. Given the mood he was in right now, he’d probably kill the son of a bitch and let the courts figure it all out.

  He shot the dead bolt home hard and fast, relaxing slightly as the bolt slammed into the thick wood.

  Not in my house.

  Nathan leaned against the wall, trying to gather the strength to go upstairs to bed.

  A knock came at the door.

  He hesitated before looking through the peephole.

  A metal ring filled the small circle, dark leather behind it.

  Nathan let his breath out slowly before opening the door.

  Jen stood there, his collar in her right hand.

  “May I come in?” she asked.

  He took a step to the side and let her pass by.

  “Close the door,” Jen ordered. She held up the well-worn leather. “I’m not going anywhere for the next few hours. And neither are you.” She drew a deep breath. “I called HP and quit. They told me they’d keep the PI on me until this is resolved.”

  Nathan relocked the door before turning to face her, secure he could keep her safe in here in his sanctuary.

  She ran her tongue over her lower lip, showing her teeth. “I’ll be honest with you. I’ve thought about this before. At home after our sessions. Sometimes even during our sessions.”

  Nathan saw the desire in her eyes, the pupils widening as she stared at him. “You’ve—” She sighed. “You’ve always been my safe place to fall. I always looked forward to our visits because I enjoyed them.” Her lips twisted into a smile. “Maybe a bit too much. That’s how I could tell you about Tanner, about me. You were the only one I ever felt I could talk to about me, about what and who I am.” She undid her jacket and let it fall off her shoulders. “But I’m tired and I need to sleep, and so do you. Take me to your bed and let’s rest.” She arched one eyebrow. “For now.”

  He swallowed hard, unable to find the words.

  Jen reached out and put her hands around his neck, placing the collar. The small lock clicked shut, silencing any fears he might have had left.

  “Upstairs.”

  He grinned and picked her up in his arms, evoking a gasp from her as he swung around and headed for the stairs.

  This was either the smartest thin
g she’d ever done in her life or the craziest.

  At the moment, it could go either way.

  The stairs creaked as they ascended. It seemed to take forever, his strong arms cradling her and carrying her into a whole new reality.

  The door was open, and he slid through sideways, careful not to bump her head.

  It was as she remembered it. A stack of laundry sitting in the far corner, uniform shirts mixed with socks and underwear.

  The polished redwood posts. They sent her imagination racing as she envisioned what she could do with them in other circumstances. The thick fluffy down comforter was pulled back to the bottom of the bed, checkered dark brown squares a sharp contrast to the white sheets.

  She chuckled, and he nuzzled her neck, the ring on his collar jingling.

  “Something funny, Mistress?”

  “You’re a slob.” Jen gestured at the pile of dirty clothing.

  “Why, yes. Yes, I am.” He chuckled. “Something for you to punish me for later.” He stood her up and slid his own leather jacket off to toss onto the growing heap.

  “We’ll see.” She put her hands on her hips and eyed him, savoring the moment. “Take my clothing off. Slowly and carefully.” She wagged a finger at him. “Slowly. Or I’ll put them all back on, and you’ll have to start again at the beginning.”

  “Of course.” Nathan moved inside her personal space, close enough to steal her breath away. “As you wish.”

  His eyes softened, still with a hint of laughter in them as he focused in on her. His fingers landed on the button at the base of her neck and began to undo them with a maddeningly sluggish pace as she’d asked for.

  Her heart hammered in her chest as she studied his hands. They were the hands of a working man, calloused and well worn. Every time he brushed his fingertips over her skin it was as if he were made of slick polished ivory.

  It was hard not to shiver in anticipation of what he could do, what he would do with those hands.

  Jen forced herself to stay still, the urge to break her own rules almost overwhelming. She wanted nothing more than to tangle her fingers in his short black hair, scrape her nails over his scalp as he followed her every command. She wanted to strip him bare and feast on his tightly muscled chest and abs, devour him whole.

  The torture she was supposed to be inflicting on him was reflecting back on her with a vengeance.

  She clenched her hands into tight fists as Nathan’s hands moved down the blouse. His breathing became a series of ragged pants as more and more of her bare skin was exposed.

  Jen pressed her lips into a tight line, resisting the urge to grin like a fool.

  You want more.

  You want to rip off my clothes and have your way with me.

  Not until I say so.

  The pace was driving her crazy, but she wasn’t going to give in to the burning desire bubbling up inside her.

  This is what you want.

  And it’s my privilege to give it to you.

  He reached the bottom of her blouse and brushed the white cotton to each side, exposing her light pink bra. His fingers skimmed her soft skin, the urge to laugh almost overwhelming her as he tickled his way along her waist. He gently pulled the blouse free and folded it neatly, placing it on a nearby table.

  He returned to stare at her, his eyes burning with desire.

  His need shot straight to her core, feeding the fire burning for so long.

  “May I—” he rasped.

  “My jeans.” She wasn’t going to let him run the show.

  Not yet.

  He dropped to his knees and fumbled with the top button before expertly sliding the zipper down, keeping clear of her panties. A brief tug had her pants sliding down to bunch at her ankles.

  Nathan frowned. “May I undo your shoes?”

  Oops.

  “Yes. And my socks too.”

  How romantic.

  Jen giggled as his fingers danced around her ankles, stripping her feet bare. He tossed the shoes and socks to one side before pulling her jeans free and folding them gently. Those he placed to one side.

  Nathan bent down and kissed the top of her feet, one after each other with light, delicate touches.

  Oh God.

  She rested her hands on his shoulders, feeling light-headed. In all her imagined scenarios, in all her fantasies, she’d never seen this.

  The soft kisses moved up to her left ankle and then her knee.

  “Stop.”

  Nathan froze in place.

  “You’re awfully overdressed. Get up and strip.” She snapped her fingers to keep them from trembling. “Now.”

  He rose in front of her. His deep brown eyes were wide, locking onto hers as if laser-guided. “As you wish.” He reached down and pulled his boots off. His black socks were bunched into tight balls and tossed to the side.

  He never stopped looking at her, staring at her.

  Nathan stood up and pulled his black T-shirt over his head with the same maddeningly slow pace he’d used to disrobe her.

  Jen dug her nails into the palms of her hands as he undid the button at the top of his jeans and slowly, agonizingly slowly, let them slide down to fall on the floor.

  She’d seen him naked before.

  This shouldn’t have been any different from the many times he’d been naked and collared in front of her, on his knees or waiting to be disciplined.

  Yet—

  He tucked his thumbs under the waistband of his briefs and pulled them down in one swift motion before kicking them off with his jeans.

  Nathan rested his hands on his hips with a smirk, waiting for her next instruction.

  “Pull down the quilt. We’re going to sleep now.” She forced the words out past the heat pooling in her belly, the desire surging through her veins.

  “You’re going to sleep?” He cocked his head to one side.

  “Yes.” She gestured at the bed. “And so are you.”

  Nathan shifted, and she saw he was already hard, painfully so. A bead of moisture collected at the tip as he stood there, collared and naked.

  “Bed,” Jen ordered, wondering who was going to suffer more for the next few hours.

  He was going to die a slow and painful death from blue balls.

  It’d be an interesting obituary.

  Here lies Nathan Harrowsford, who couldn’t stand lying beside the woman he loved for a second longer without permission to touch her.

  A bit wordy, but it’d have to do.

  He watched her slide in under the sheets, the pink bra and matching panties a stark contrast to the whiteness. She pulled the comforter up to her waist.

  Jen crooked a finger at him. “In.”

  He lay beside her on his back. The quilt tented as she threw it back over him, his cock twitching against the blanket as he stared at the ceiling.

  The leather collar cut into the back of his neck. Not painful enough to make him want to adjust it but enough to remind him he was at her mercy.

  “Go to sleep. We’re both exhausted and in no condition to do anything. Well, anything good.” She curled away from him, her body heat dancing along the edges of his senses. “We’ll talk after we rest.”

  Rest?

  He was primed and ready to blow.

  Maybe—

  He flexed his fingers, wondering how silent he could be.

  “And don’t you dare touch yourself.” The heated whisper shocked him into staying still. “I’ll know, and then you’ll never find out what it’s like.”

  He didn’t have to ask her what it was.

  “Go to sleep,” Jen repeated as she yawned.

  Nathan listened as her breathing grew more regular and slow.

  He couldn’t sleep.

  He couldn’t leave.

  In an effort to
dampen his desire, he thought about Lucas Tanner and why he’d be going after Jen’s clients.

  If you want revenge or whatever on her, then run straight on. Why take all the time and work to find each man she’s seeing?

  Nathan frowned as the dim light crept in under the closed blinds.

  It would have taken a lot of work. He must have been watching her apartment, watching her every time she left. Following her to each residence and then waiting, drawing up a schedule of where she went and who she saw. He probably doesn’t know she’s a Domme—maybe he thinks she’s a massage therapist or some such thing.

  But then when did he plan to make his run? And where?

  At the clinic? At her house?

  Where would the final act play out?

  He fell asleep before the last thought congealed, exhaustion winning out.

  * * * * *

  She thought she wouldn’t be able to go to sleep with the mixture of desire and fear pumping her body full of energy and adrenaline.

  She was wrong.

  The next time she opened her eyes and looked over at the digital clock on the side table, it was well after four in the afternoon, her usual waking time after working a night shift.

  But there was nothing usual about this time.

  She was in bed with Nathan, and things had irrevocably changed between them.

  On my command.

  She turned over to find him on his side, facing away from her. Heat radiated from his bare skin, warming the sheets and comforter.

  Jen ran her fingers along his back over the skin she’d laid bare with the lash and the flogger not so long ago. The marks were gone, but she knew they were still there under the surface, marking him as forever hers.

  Kate might have been his first Domme, but she’d be his last.

  She ran her finger over the edge of the leather collar he still wore. The key was within reach on the side table where she’d placed it before going to sleep.

  Jen reached for the key and undid the lock. A slight tug had the long slender strap sliding out onto the pillow and into her hand.

  Nathan rolled over. His eyes were bright and wide.

  “Good morning,” he said with a trace of a smile on his lips.

  “Good afternoon,” she corrected him.