Chapter Four
Deep inside, nerves and anticipation collided, merged, then arrowed up Brandy’s spine.
All day, she’d been thinking about this moment. When he’d accepted her invitation to the party, she’d hoped he would stay. It had been difficult to keep moving forward with preparations when all she’d wanted to do was indulge in adult-themed fantasises.
Still, now that the moment was here, she realised this was a monumental step. Not for him, she was sure, but for her. Master Niles was a self-assured Dom whose resources allowed him to have a different woman every day of the week if he wanted.
On this small plot of mountain land, she’d created a sanctuary. She’d invited no one to share it with her.
She’d thought she could have him over, have a scene and be casual the next morning, but she was finding out it wasn’t so easy for her.
Master Niles was more complex than she’d believed him to be from their few meetings at the Den. If she were honest, she would admit that part of her had been surprised when he’d shown up prepared to grill.
His barbecue skills were only a few steps above dismal. He seemed to give people two choices in how they liked their burgers cooked—burnt or charred. Still, he’d shocked her by seeming at ease. He’d had a couple of beers, rather than expensive cocktails, and when she’d checked on him through the windows, he’d been engaged in conversation. By the end of the evening, he’d shaken John’s hand. Brandy liked that Master Niles didn’t scare easily.
But wanting to work together after her guests had left…that took the relationship to a new, uncomfortable level.
He’d made light of her observation that he wasn’t behaving like a Dom. If he’d stay within the lines of her preconceived boundaries, things would be easier for her. She wore submission like a comfortable blanket. It kept her warm and safe. But taking it off revealed the real, vulnerable person beneath. She’d vowed to keep that person hidden and protected.
Master Niles continued to say nothing, and he eased away from her, giving her space. He took the last drink from his beer then slid the empty bottle onto the countertop.
His words still hung between them, ripe with expectation.
Why the hell had he gone and complicated things?
He didn’t rush her decision, and she appreciated that he would respect anything she decided. She knew she was flirting with danger. Despite that, she wanted to be back in his arms. If he left, the loneliness would be worse than the potential emotional risk. “I’d like you to stay.”
He captured her hand and raised it to his lips with old-world elegance. “My pleasure,” he said.
With his touch, awareness skittered across her nerve endings. Oh yes. She’d made the right decision. Her imagination provided half a dozen scenarios for what they might do later, and each image was more evocative than the previous one.
“Now, about your refusal of my help with the dishes…” He released her and grabbed a hand towel. With focused intent, he made small circles with his wrist, wrapping the towel round and round.
“Oh no you don’t,” she said, dancing a few steps away from him. She never knew what to expect from him, from playful and teasing to thoughtful and kind and back again. “That’s for high school boys in a locker room.”
“It’s also for subs who argue with their Doms.”
“No, no!” Her gaze was riveted on his hand. She wanted him to smack her with the whirling towel. Alternately, she knew it would hurt. Most of all, she wanted this light moment to continue and chase away her fears. “Come on, Master Niles, I was trying to be a good sub. I wanted you to relax like you deserve. I was being nice to you.”
“Uh-huh.” He took a deliberate step towards her.
“That’ll burn like a bitch.”
“Take it like a woman.”
“I don’t want to!” She squealed in mock terror.
The dogs danced around and barked as he drew back his hand. He continued to swirl the fabric.
“Present your ass, sub.”
“I promise to make you work like a hired hand next time you’re here. I’ll even let you put away all the leftovers by yourself. You can scrub the floors if you want. With a toothbrush. I’ll sit and watch television while you do it. Promise.”
“This will hurt more if I make you remove your skirt.”
“Oh fine. Hit me with your best shot.” With a saucy grin, she turned her backside to him and flicked her ponytail. She intended to skitter out of his reach by the time he let the towel fly. But his speed stunned her. He flicked his wrist, catching her bottom in a searing strike. “Yowzer!”
“Now can we clean the kitchen, or would you like to argue some more?”
Turning to face him, she rubbed the sting. “Damn, Sir, you don’t show any mercy.”
“Do you want me to?”
Did she? Their gazes locked.
“I want what you’re offering,” she confessed.
“Good. Me, too.” He tossed the towel towards the counter, but Dana snatched it from mid-air and hurried off to her crate. “You were right. She is fast. Sorry about that.”
MW’s nails scrabbled on the tiled floor as he struggled to keep up so he could nip the larger dog’s heels.
“I’ll get it later. If I try to get it now, she’ll think we are playing tug-of-war.”
When they ignored the animals, they settled down.
“Get to work,” he instructed. He raised an eyebrow. “Unless you want another spanking.”
“Sorry, Sir, was that supposed to be motivation?”
“I could withhold one for the next few weeks.”
“Anything but that,” she protested as she bent to grab the dish soap from beneath the sink. She didn’t miss the fact he was speaking in terms of seeing each other in the future or the fact his eyes no longer seemed shadowed by pain.
Fifteen minutes later, he closed the last cupboard door. Every surface had been washed and dried. Even the floor had been swept.
“Now…” he said, reaching for her and drawing her near like he had earlier.
She settled into his arms with alarming ease.
“Getting that finished wasn’t so bad. Was it?”
“You were right, Sir.”
“My favourite words,” he said.
“Of course they are.” Brandy wound her hands around his neck. For this moment, it was as if they were new lovers as well as submissive and Dominant. His cock pressed against her, and her pussy moistened in immediate response.
When he narrowed his eyes, putting all his focus solely on her, her knees weakened. She leaned against him more and dug her fingers into his hair. “Want,” she murmured.
Brandy had thought she’d been prepared… He claimed her mouth with deliberation mixed with longing. His tongue brushed hers in a gentle tease rather than the intensity she’d expected.
He tasted of beer with a faint undertone of chocolate. She hadn’t known he had a sweet tooth.
With slow, measured precision, he deepened the kiss. Her body came to life.
Her Dom opened his mouth wider and demanded deeper access. Then he splayed a hand across her buttocks and brought her in even closer. She met him with fire rather than submissive inevitability.
He was muscle and sinew and relentless male energy. He moved his other hand to her upper back and applied enough pressure to smash her breasts again his chest. Every breath she took was stamped by his masculine essence.
Deftly, he manoeuvred them so that he could grab the hem of her sweater and pull it over her head.
He looked at her bared torso. Her breasts felt heavy, and her nipples ached for his attention.
“Making you go braless was a bad decision.”
Her skin heated beneath his smouldering approval. “Was it, Sir?”
“Torture,” he added.
“For me, too.”
“Oh?”
“You pinched my nipples earlier, and all night, my sweater rubbed me, keeping them hard. Then when I saw yo
u looking at me…”
“I wanted to have you up against the back of the house when you came outside the first time, all avenging angel to protect me from John. An angel with the nipples of a siren. I should punish you for making me have a hard-on all night.”
“Serves you right, Sir. I was just being a good sub and doing what you said.” His swift responses when she was sassy should have already taught her to hold her tongue, but she couldn’t resist.
“I’m going to put you in a full girdle. One that hides your breasts.”
“You could just keep your magnificent libido in check,” she teased.
“And that’s how I intend to do it. Unless you want to find yourself ravished even if you have a houseful of guests.”
“Ravished, Sir?”
He shrugged. “Sounds better than being banged.”
“Either word is perfect, as long as it’s not just talk.” She continued, even though she knew it was risky, “Back it up with some action, Sir.”
He tossed the sweater on top of a cupboard. MW leapt up. Master Niles didn’t say a word. Instead, he levelled a look at the dog. With a soft whine, MW plopped back down.
“How do you do that?” she asked.
“It’s about force of will,” he said.
“Ah. I see.”
“It’s inevitable. No need to fight it.” He dropped a kiss on the top of her head.
The intimate gesture made her feel cared for.
“Do we need to do anything with the dogs before bed?”
“I don’t make them sleep in their crates. Most times they prefer to, but I don’t lock them in.”
“If I remember correctly, your bedroom has a door?”
“It does. No need to worry that your toes will get bitten while we’re in bed.”
As if he were reluctant to let her go, he released her by slow measures. It took her just as long to drop her arms to her sides.
“Would you like a shower first, Sir?”
“I’d like to fuck you, then shower, then fuck you again.” His eyes were dark, mysterious. “By then, you might be warmed up.”
Brandy gulped. She didn’t know him well enough to know if he was joking, but she suspected he wasn’t.
Though they’d stepped apart, sexual tension vibrated in the atmosphere, promising to reignite.
“Is everything locked up?”
“I wanted to double-check the front door. Someone may have gone out that way.”
He nodded then handled the task. It was small, menial yet it mattered a great deal to her. She’d spent so long taking care of herself that having someone else ease part of the load seemed huge.
In a way it frightened her. If she came to count on him, she would be setting herself up for failure. But how could she do otherwise when his personality loomed so big?
In a surprise move, one that affirmed the nature of their relationship, he came back to cup her head with his palm. To outsiders, this would never look out of place, but it showed her that Dominance wasn’t an occasional thing to him. It was an extension of his alpha personality. She shivered.
“Cold?”
“No, Sir,” she whispered, meeting his all-seeing gaze.
“Then you’re responding to me.”
“Yes…”
He tightened his grip, and she closed her eyes in submissive bliss. Her whole life, she’d craved this kind of intimacy. She’d had plenty of relationships, some with Doms, some with men who tried to give her what she wanted, some with vanilla guys who had no interest in helping her get her kink on.
This, however, was delicious because of its naturalness.
Master Niles couldn’t help being who he was, and she was powerless to do anything other than respond to his masculine resolve.
He drew her head back, and she looked at him.
His strong jaw was set in a tight line. His features were inscrutable. She reminded herself she didn’t know much about him. Gregorio had warned her not to get her heart broken. His words echoed in her mind as if he were standing there.
She couldn’t allow herself to get swept up in the moment with Master Niles and begin to think this meant anything to him. He’d used the word friend and dispelled her earlier fears. They were two consenting adults enjoying each other’s company, nothing more. No matter how devastatingly handsome he was.
“Shall we get on with the ravishing?” he asked.
The darkness in his eyes had vanished. “Or the banging,” she added, responding in kind.
He kept his hand in place as he led her to the bedroom and closed the door.
Without a word, he lowered her to her knees. So, so right. When he dropped his hands, she missed his touch. But with trained patience, she waited for him to speak.
“Is there anything we need to discuss, Brandy?”
They needed to get this out of the way, and she appreciated him taking time for it, even though she was anxious to feel him inside her. “If it suits you, Sir, we can use the Den’s protocols. Halt for a safe word. Safe limits, nothing that will cause permanent scarring and, of course, we’ll use condoms. There are some in the nightstand drawer.”
He nodded.
The necessities out of the way, she glanced at the floor, using the motion to ground herself in a submissive mind-set. “May I help you with your boots, Sir?”
“Please do.”
His instruction was firm, not a request, but an order. The command in his tone settled her as effectively as a touch, and she drank it like the finest wine.
Brandy untied the laces. He sat on the mattress while she removed his hiking boots then slid them next to a pair of her sandals beneath the bed.
“Thank you,” he said, after she’d tucked his socks away.
A lot of subs she knew didn’t embrace small acts of servitude with the reverence she did. Something about making her Dom’s life somewhat easier fed her soul. She enjoyed all the physical acts as well—beatings, bondage—but to her, submission was an entire package. And as she’d explained to friends and family who weren’t in the lifestyle, her preferences didn’t make her a doormat. Domination and submission were symbiotic. Things needed to be in balance for success.
He’d cooked, helped with the clean-up, entertained her guests and made certain the house was secure.
“Finish stripping for me. I want to see the rest of your body naked. You may stand.”
They’d been together before, and recently he’d spanked her. She shouldn’t feel anxious, but with him sitting there on her bed, arms folded across his chest, she did. She wanted to please him.
She rose and wriggled out of her skirt. Right now she wished she’d worn stockings instead of tights, but he’d expressed no displeasure. Earlier, he’d used them to all but hobble her.
“Nice.”
Their gazes met. His voice held heat. He was obviously not disappointed in her choice.
Emboldened by that knowledge, she decided to do a bit of a striptease.
She toed off her sheepskin-lined boots then crouched to tuck them beneath the bed, not far from his legs.
“Brandy…”
“Sir?” It took all her concentration not to grin. Of course she knew she held the power, but she also recognised how fleeting it was. He could and would snatch it back in an instant.
She did a little hip wiggle as she stood. Then, turning her back to him, she slid her fingers beneath the tight elastic band and started to shimmy the material down her legs.
“Stop.”
She froze. The sound of his voice brooked no refusal. He scared her, thrilled her. Like earlier, her tights were around her knees, and she was effectively hobbled.
“Grab your ankles.”
Damn, she loved the carnality of a D/s relationship. No vanilla guy had ever ordered her around like this. Never knowing what to expect thrilled her.
Once she was in position, he stood. Upside down, she remained where she was, struggling to remember to breathe.
He walked around her slowly, looki
ng at her. After stopping behind her, he pulled down her thong and slid a finger between the plump folds of her pussy. Her clit throbbed.
“So beautiful,” he said.
Master Niles stroked faster, and she moved her hips, seeking more. This afternoon, he’d allowed her to hump his leg, and she was all but doing the same thing to his hand now.
“I should take a picture of your pretty little cunt.”
“Anything you say, Sir.” As long as he let her get off.
“You’re getting wetter.”
“I am…”
He stroked faster.
“Oh, Master Niles!”
“That’s it, gorgeous sub. You can come now or you can wait. Your choice.”
“I’m not certain I understand, Sir.” She was delirious, lost. Her hair spilled everywhere, and she closed her eyes as the first tendrils claimed her. She was on the verge of satisfaction or painful denial.
“If you come now, I’ll punish you for it, and it will be the only one you get. If you wait, you’ll have as many orgasms as you want later.”
Her body shook.
He didn’t ask again. Instead he kept stroking her with the same rhythm and pressure. The more he touched her the quicker she started to unravel. She tried to swim through the haze of sensation. Delay the sensation? Or grab the release that was right there, even if it meant dealing with more of this unrequited tension later? “Whatever you prefer, Sir.” She curled her toes under, trying to hold on.
He didn’t answer.
“Sir, Sir, Sir!” She gulped in gasps of air.
“Wait. I want you to fight it off.”
She exhaled a shaky gasp, relieved that he’d made the decision. But instead of removing his hand, the heartless bastard kept up his ministrations. “Oh, fuck!”
“I won’t think less of you if you disobey me.”
She pulled away from him a bit, but her body’s needs betrayed her. Like a hussy, she swayed, moving her hips back. “You’ll punish me, though.”
For The Sub (Mastered) Page 7
