Hold Me Until Forever

by Christina Phillips

  And that’s what he gave her. From half a dozen theme rooms, to cubbies where couples or more could engage or watch, to an indoor spa and massage corner. In one of the group areas a semi-naked woman was being thoroughly spanked by a guy in a designer suit.

  My mind is officially blown.

  Alex palmed her ass. This time his touch was possessive. “Tell me when you see something you like.”

  She licked her lips. Tonight all my fantasies can come true. But only if she managed to summon the courage to tell him. “Guess I quite like this.”

  Oh yeah, that told him. At least she didn’t sound as though her heart was trying to knock a hole through her rib cage. Where was her runaway tongue when she needed it?

  “Having your ass spanked in public?” The light was muted, but she could see the heat in his eyes. And there was no mistaking the way he tightened his grip on her butt.

  “Not in public.” She could only manage a breathy whisper. Luckily she sounded sexy as hell, if the way his jaw tensed was anything to go by.

  “I can find somewhere private.”

  I’m really going to have sex with Alex Grayson. For a second the notion paralyzed her. “Private?” Crap, now she just sounded like a parrot. But everywhere he’d shown her in Excalibur was at least semipublic, and she couldn’t remember all the details from the website. “You mean your office?”

  He stroked a finger along her cheek. His gaze burned into her. “I can do better than my office.”

  Chapter Four

  Ella stared up at him, her lips parted in a soundless breath. She was so damn sexy it hurt. She was tough, but right now she gave off an irresistibly vulnerable vibe that pushed all his hot buttons.

  “Okay.”

  She sounded all soft and submissive, willing to put her body in his hands for the night. He swallowed a groan. Does she really know what she’s agreeing to?

  “Are you sure?” He pulled her close so there was no chance of them being overheard. “Once I get you alone, you’re mine until I let you go.”

  She didn’t pull back. “That’s why I’m here.” She trailed her fingers along his jaw. She’d never touched him like that before. Not in eight years. “I don’t want you to let me go.”

  That’s what I’m afraid of. That once he had her, it wouldn’t be enough. That he wouldn’t be able to set her free.

  For fuck’s sake, focus. He wasn’t thinking about forever. He wasn’t even thinking about next week. Tonight was all they had for sure.

  “There’s something you need to understand.” He cradled her face. Her skin was so soft. “I won’t make you do anything you’re not comfortable with. But if you walk through the door with me, you agree to play by my rules.”

  “I can handle that.”

  “I haven’t told you what they are yet.”

  She pressed her hand against his chest. “You want me to sign a contract or something?”

  “Tempting.” But they didn’t need a contract for this. It was only going to be casual, and kept strictly inside Excalibur.

  Keep telling yourself that. It didn’t matter what way he looked at it. Even if this lasted only one night, it was always going to be more than just a casual hookup when it came to Ella.

  And that was the danger.

  “Tempting but no?” She raised her eyebrows. “Afraid I might read the small print?”

  “All you have to do is trust me.”

  “Really?” For a second she looked shocked, and then she smiled, with no trace of her usual mockery. “You’re kidding, right? I already trust you.”

  Not like this you don’t. “Total trust, Ella. If you want me to stop, you say your safe word.”

  “I don’t need—” She cut herself off. “Right, okay.”

  He waited. She stared back at him. A vague trace of unease surfaced. “I need to know it. No point having one otherwise.”

  “I know that. I’m just…” Her fingers twitched against his chest. He slid his hand around the back of her neck, and she gave a delicate shiver. He refused to think the obvious. She doesn’t have a safe word. “Uh, roasted nuts.”

  “What?”

  “Well, if I get to the point where I want you to stop, it’ll be because I want to roast your nuts. Fitting, right?”

  He had the crazy urge to laugh, even though he knew she’d just made that up, which was a red flag that she’d never done this before. Or maybe she just wanted a new one especially for him.

  Yeah, right.

  “As long as you remember it. That’s all that matters.” He took her hand. She snuggled against him, which went against every rule in his book. Except he hadn’t told her about any of those unspoken rules because…hell, they were unspoken.

  And they were for other women here. Not her.

  He led her along the passageway toward the Queen Guinevere Chamber. The name started as a joke but had stuck, and it was the one room in the club that could be hired out by the hour by patrons for their exclusive use.

  After seeing Ella earlier that day, he’d booked it out until the morning.

  First time for everything. He was the only one of his partners who’d never taken advantage of the room. About time he did.

  Only because she’s Ella.

  Before he managed to wipe that thought from his head, Abigail appeared in front of them, disbelief etched on her face as she stared at their entwined hands.

  It was bad enough she’d done the pole dance routine when it was obvious he was with someone, but the dirty look she now slung Ella irritated the shit out of him. They’d only hooked up for one scene together a couple of months ago, but Abigail acted like there was something going on between them.

  She didn’t move out of their way. She dipped her head and clasped her hands together, waiting for him to speak first.

  Which was fine. Except she wasn’t his sub. He didn’t want her as his sub, and by dissing Ella she was going the right way toward getting herself barred from Excalibur.

  “Hey,” Ella said. Abigail shot her another death stare before once again focusing on the floor.

  Fuck this. “Abigail, I’ll speak to you later.” Damned if he was going to tell her to get her shit together in front of Ella.

  “Yes, sir,” Abigail said in a breathy voice and, with a satisfied smile she didn’t bother trying to hide, turned and disappeared along the hall, her ass wiggling like it had a mind of its own.

  “Uh.” Ella sounded as though she wasn’t sure whether to choke or laugh. “Do I have to call you sir?”

  He opened the door to the chamber and gave a silent sigh of relief when she sauntered inside. As he’d instructed, only the wall lamps were on, giving the room a muted glow.

  “Not all the time.”

  She wound her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. It had been a long time—years—since a woman had done that without an invitation. If anyone else had done it, he’d put them in their place. But Ella…

  Christ, it was okay when she did it.

  “I’ve never called anyone sir before.” She pouted her gorgeous violet-painted lips at him as he kicked the door shut. “Not teachers or even the guy I work with.”

  “No need to call the guy you work with sir.” He wrapped his arms around her waist. His cock thickened, and for a few seconds he enjoyed the feel of her soft body before he brutally pulled himself back into line. Control. “But in here I want to hear you call me sir.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Her breathy voice was nothing like Abigail’s and hit him low in the gut. Don’t fucking lose it. But hearing that word from Ella damn near blew his famous control to hell.

  “I’m going to take it nice and slow tonight.” Even if it kills me. Another reason why he should’ve kept his distance from her. He had too many years of frustrated fantasies when it came to her.

  “I don’t mind it fast and furious.” She ran her fingers over the back of his head. He grabbed her hand and imprisoned her fingers, even though her touch felt good.
r />   More than good.

  “I said we’re taking it slow, Ella.”

  She opened her mouth to give him some smart retort, and then she pressed her lips together as she appeared to reconsider.

  Fuck, that’s hot. She never usually thought twice before she disagreed with him. He wrapped his hand around her other wrist and slowly pulled her hands from around his neck.

  “You can only touch me when I give you permission.”

  “I can’t touch you?” She wasn’t pissed by his order. She was devastated.

  “Not yet.” Damn, this is hard. He wanted her to wrap her arms around him. But that wasn’t the way he was wired. That kind of contact came later. Afterward.

  “Okay.” She sounded unsure. Then she took a deep breath that caused her breasts to all but pop out from her insanely sexy corset. “Well, I guess I better confess before I go and screw it up. I’ve never done anything like this before.”

  Red flag. He smashed the thought before it could take root. I don’t care.

  “Another good reason to take things slow.”

  “Yeah…” She remained completely still as he slowly slid her jacket off her shoulders and dropped it onto a chair. “What I mean is, I might’ve kind of exaggerated about the whole experimenting thing.”

  Two men at once. Savage satisfaction speared through his chest. Wind it back, buddy. It didn’t make any difference what she had or hadn’t done in the past.

  The hell it didn’t…

  “Why would you tell me you’d experimented if you hadn’t?” He traced his finger along her shoulder and across her collarbone. She’d look so good wearing a gold choker around her throat.

  What the hell? His finger froze and he stared into her eyes as he battled the vision flooding through his mind. Ella. Collared.

  Jesus. This was bad.

  “I didn’t think you’d be interested if you knew just how vanilla I am.”

  Take her home. Right now. But he wouldn’t.

  “Do you want to be here?”

  “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

  “Then I’m interested.” Go straight to hell. Do not pass Go…

  Her gaze didn’t waver. “Does that make me your sub?”

  Too damn right it does. “That’s up to you.”

  Confusion flashed across her face. “Is it?”

  “Oh yeah.” He traced the edge of her corset. Her breathing became ragged. He almost forgot what he was going to say. “It’s all up to you. You can stop this anytime, and I’ll never touch you again.”

  “Huh.” She appeared fascinated, as though she’d had no idea of the balance of power. That’s because she doesn’t have a clue. That’s why this was such a bad idea. “I’m not going to stop this, Alex.”

  He bit back a smile at how quickly she’d forgotten his first request. “Sir,” he reminded her.

  “Oh right.” She flashed her mocking smile his way. “Sir.”

  This was a game to her. Not a way of life. It wasn’t going to stop him, though. “I know you’re a novice. But you need to remember what I tell you.”

  If he said something like that to her in the office, she’d tear him a new one. He half expected her to react the same way now.

  Won’t make any difference. He wouldn’t end this scene. Not for anything. Not unless she gave her safe word, and then it would be over for good.

  A shudder inched through her. For a moment she looked at him as though she had no idea who he was. He kept his mask on. Your move.

  “Yes, sir. I’m sorry.”

  And an apology? He hadn’t expected that. She was entering the mindset better than he’d hoped.

  He released her hands. “Unzip your skirt, real slow.”

  She took a step back and slowly unzipped one side of her skirt. Just as the top of her stocking came into view she gave him a small, pouty smile. Ella doesn’t smile like that. Riveted, he couldn’t take his eyes from her face, even though her left thigh was fully exposed.

  “Does that please you, sir?” Her voice was all breathy, and she traced the tips of her fingers from her knee to the top of her stockings.

  His mouth dried. In his dreams she’d never taken his orders and run with them. “Yes.” He sounded hoarse. “Now take your skirt off. I want to see your naked ass.”

  She swayed her hips provocatively as she slid her skirt down her legs. Then she wobbled on her heels as she pulled it off one foot and then the other. She tossed the skirt across the floor and planted her hands on her hips.

  “Your turn.”

  He dragged his mesmerized gaze from her silver thong, which was edged with violet lace and matched her suspenders. Matched her corset. Fuck, even matched her damn ankle boots. He’d always enjoyed her fashion style. Did she always coordinate her underwear to everything else so perfectly?

  He couldn’t fault the view, but she hadn’t done as he asked. “You haven’t finished.”

  Her sexy smile wavered. “You really want me to take everything off while you just stand there and watch me?”

  “No.” Liar. He liked that idea a lot. “But my hand has a date with your ass, remember?”

  Her cheeks heated. He’d never seen her blush before. The effect was electrifying.

  “That’s…” Her fingers twitched against her hips as she obviously struggled to say what was on her mind. Had she reached her limit? They hadn’t even started yet.

  Don’t bail on me.

  He didn’t want this to end before he’d had the chance to make all her fantasies come true. He wanted to feel her come apart in his arms, wanted to hear her cries of surrender as he mastered her.

  “Ella.” There was a low note of warning in his voice.

  She licked her lips. “That’s kind of hot,” she said.

  Relief punched through him. He managed not to let it show on his face. “I’m still waiting.” And I don’t even care. He liked her being a brat.

  She sucked on her bottom lip and slid her thumbs into the narrow ribbons of her thong. Slowly she inched the scrap of lace over her hips, bending forward so he got an eyeful of her cleavage.

  He swallowed a groan. Concentrate. Tonight was all about her ass, not her tits.

  She kicked off her thong and it tangled around one of her heels. Not that she seemed to notice. She clasped her hands in front of her, hiding her sex.

  With slow deliberation he unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it from his pants. Usually that was a task for his sub. Tonight I’m breaking all my rules.

  Her gaze roamed over his bare chest, as though she’d never seen him half naked before. Had she ever looked at him like this when they went to the beach? He’d never noticed—although he’d damn well noticed her in her sexy little bikinis.

  He took her hand and led her toward a high-backed, armless timber chair. The chamber had its own spanking bench, but he didn’t need that tonight.

  Didn’t need anything but Ella.

  He untangled his fingers and cupped her face. She stared up at him. So trusting. He kissed her and she opened her mouth, a blatant invitation. With reluctance he pulled back, and disappointment flashed in her eyes.

  Not yet. He sat on the chair. “Come here.” He barely recognized his own voice. Raw lust thudded in his chest.

  Control. He drew in a long breath. Which might’ve helped if he hadn’t caught a subtle hint of her heady scent.

  She stood in front of him. “Is this going to hurt?”

  He traced his finger along her arm. He couldn’t seem to stop himself from touching her. “Is that what you want?”

  She shivered. “I guess. I’m not sure.”

  “I’ll go easy. You’ll enjoy it.”

  “Will you?” There was a hint of nerves in the smile she shot him, as though she wasn’t sure how he’d take that comment.

  “Having you over my knee?” Even the thought of it was enough to get him hard. Now that it was really going to happen he was so damn uncomfortable he could hardly think straight. “Dream come true, babe.”


  This time her smile took his breath away. “You kept that quiet.”

  He hadn’t meant to let her know just how long he’d wanted her. He’d always kept it locked down, and there was a difference between her thinking tonight was spontaneous and her knowing it was something he’d craved for eight years.

  “Get comfortable.” He couldn’t help giving her a grin as he patted his knee. His grin turned into a silent groan when she obeyed him without so much as a blink.

  She fitted over his lap as though she’d done this a thousand times in the past. Her corset hugged her back and nipped her waist, and framed the curve of her ass like she was a Christmas candy.

  Beautiful. Smooth and shapely and waiting for the kiss of his hand.

  He positioned his arm across the small of her back to keep her still and traced the tips of his fingers from the top of her stocking, over her naked thigh and butt. Damn, she felt good. She trembled and clutched his ankle.

  “Your ass is so sexy.” He cupped her cheek for a few moments, so she got used to the feel of him. Then he spanked that gorgeous plump flesh.

  She squealed and jerked in his lap. He held her tight until she calmed down. “How did that make you feel?” He couldn’t tear his gaze away from her pink butt cheek.

  “Tingly,” she gasped. “All the way up my spine.”

  He was feeling tingly himself. And it was going in the opposite direction from his spine. “Tell me when it reaches your nipples.”

  “Already has.”

  He laughed. Focus. He let out a ragged breath. This is for Ella. “Hold on tight, babe.”

  His touch was light but her ass blazed, and the sight damn near killed him. She dug her nails into his ankle and wriggled every time his hand connected, and her shocked little gasps were the sweetest sounds he’d ever heard.

  I want her so bad. But this wasn’t about him. He spread her thighs. She was so wet. Hold on…

  “Oh my God.” She sounded on the edge of agony. She writhed helplessly, her legs shaking on those spiky heels. “Alex. Please…”

  He leaned over her until his jaw grazed her hair. “Do you want to come, Ella?”

  “Yes.”

  “Ask me nicely.”

  “What?” She shuddered and he stroked her swollen sex, a deliberate tease.