He gave her a short reprieve before popping her again. This time, the pain of the cane blistering across her bottom surpassed the ugly guilt clawing at her chest. It burst through and obliterated that torment. Another smack of the cane and Hallie sagged in her bonds. She cried pitifully now but felt the strangest sense of relief.
Something warm and bright surged through her. The pain no longer gripped her. She’d moved beyond it to something new and different. The knowledge that she’d taken a life would never leave. The guilt at having made the choice to save a friend at the cost of another man faded and vanished.
However awful the choice, she’d done the right thing.
Vicious popped her again, the unyielding snap of the cane searing her bottom. She cried out but finally found her voice. “Wh-white. White!”
The cane clattered as it hit the ground. She still sobbed but the tears came from a different place now. Vicious unhooked her arms and ankles. She fell forward onto him. He swept her into his strong arms and carried her out of there. She closed her eyes and reveled in his heat.
When he placed her in their bed, she gazed up at him. Surprise punched her in the gut. His blue eyes glistened with tears. Obviously, she wasn’t the only one who had been moved by the strangely intimate and beautifully brutal experience they’d just shared.
She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a kiss. “Make love to me, Vicious.”
Chapter Eighteen
Taking a cane to Hallie’s perfect little ass had been the hardest thing he’d ever done, but he’d pushed through and done it for her. He’d known the second she’d forgiven herself. Guilt had a nasty way of twisting a soul. If it took a few pops of a cane to bring Hallie to a place of agony that allowed her to come to terms with what she’d done and accept forgiveness, then so be it.
Vicious kissed her gently, his mouth moving across hers with such love. He stroked her arms and ribs before using a corner of the bed sheet to wipe her face. His lips glided down her chin to her chest. He hated to cause her even more discomfort but the clamps had to come off now. He quickly unclipped the clamp pinching her left nipple.
She hissed and thrashed under him. “It hurts. Oh! Ow!”
“I’m sorry, Kitten.” He licked the nipple and kissed it tenderly. His fingertips moved to the other clamp but she smacked his hand away.
“No. Leave it, Vicious.”
“I can’t. It has to come off or you risk injury.” He didn’t let her argue any further. He squeezed the ends and removed the clamp. She cried out and twisted her hips. He hurriedly tongued the throbbing peak and suckled it lightly. She quieted as he made love to her breast.
He unhooked the chain from her collar and tossed the clamps onto a bedside table. Hallie’s fingers threaded through his short hair. She scratched at his scalp in the way he loved and tugged his mouth up for a kiss. He was only too happy to give her exactly what she wanted. She’d been through so much in the last few weeks, too much really. He desperately wanted to make her feel loved and cherished.
“Vicious,” she whispered and bucked her hips. “I need you.”
“I need you more.”
She smiled. “Probably.”
He chuckled and nipped at her shoulder. “Are you in pain?”
“A little,” she admitted. “My bottom is burning.”
“We’ll ice it later,” he whispered. “There’s a cream in the playroom that’s made for after care. I’ll put some on you when we’re done here.”
“I hope that’s a long, long time from now.”
He grinned at her and claimed her lips. “Me too.”
Vicious wrapped his arms around her waist and rolled her onto her side, facing him. He wanted to get some of the pressure off her bright-red ass. He’d put her through the wringer. No doubt it would be hard to concentrate on feeling good when her ass was on fire.
He caressed her silky skin as he devoured her mouth. She whimpered and pressed against him, her stiff nipples grazing his skin. He palmed a breast and brushed his thumb over the peak. She moaned against his lips. Vicious slid his hand along her outer thigh before taking a little detour around her knee. His hand between her thighs now, he forced them wide apart for his seeking fingers.
Hallie crooked her ankle along his leg, opening herself for him. He wasn’t sure if she’d be wet or not after that short, intense session of pain. To his utter delight, his fingers discovered slick honey seeping from her pussy. He doubted she’d gotten hot from the caning but being in his arms again? Yes.
“Oh!” Hallie’s lips touched his neck as he penetrated her with one finger. His thumb circled her clit. “Oh! Vicious!”
He broke out in goose bumps as her lips ghosted across his ear. He loved the way she panted and gasped when he played with her pussy. He added a second finger to the first and stretched her tight cunt. Her pussy squeezed his fingers and responded to his flicking thumb. He couldn’t wait for her to shatter in his arms. Already, his dick pulsed and his balls ached.
“Come for me, Kitten.” He thrust his fingers hard and fast in her pussy. “I want to hear you scream.”
“Vicious.” She whimpered his name and clutched at his arms. “Vicious, please…”
He worked his thumb over her clit in that fast way she liked and added a little more pressure. With her lips against his ear, she sucked in a sharp breath and climaxed. “Vicious! Vicious! Ah!”
He didn’t let up. Instead of letting her have that one climax, he forced her into yet another. His fingers curved inside her slippery channel. He found that spot that made her scream and used his fingertips to stroke it. She clawed at his arms and tipped her head back, baring her neck to him. He dropped his lips to her neck and bit down in the fleshiest spot he could find. She screamed and came again, her body rocking in his arms.
Deciding she’d had enough for now, he let her fall back to the bed and pulled his hand from her. He caressed her lower belly and breasts as he gazed upon her beauty. Every time he looked at her, he found some new thing he loved. Tonight, it was the odd-shaped birthmark just to the left of her navel.
He slid down the bed, pulled her back onto her side and parted her thighs. He forced his wide shoulders between them, rested his head against her inner thigh and cupped her sore bottom in his hands. She gasped and tried to tug free but he wouldn’t let go. “Relax,” he whispered, his lips just above her clit. “Relax for me, Kitten.”
She went limp atop the bed, showing him her trust and submission. He licked her pussy, his tongue flicking her clit slowly and gently. She shuddered but didn’t pull away. He couldn’t get enough of her sweet taste. He took his time, feasting on her as if she were some delectable morsel. When she neared her climax, he let her come nice and easy, but when it was time for the second, he was more forceful, fluttering his tongue over that pink kernel until she screamed his name and begged him to stop.
She still shuddered and whimpered as he crawled over her. His pre-cum dripped onto her skin as he insinuated himself between her thighs and caressed her face. He kissed her passionately, claiming her mouth as his own.
“I love you,” he whispered and thrust deep inside the welcoming heat of her pussy. “I love you, Hallie.”
She clung to him as he fucked her, his thrusts measured and leisurely. They kissed again and again, each mating touch of their tongues more intense and intimate. She rocked beneath him, her hips lifting up to meet his thrusts. Her eyes shimmered as tears filled them again. Not from pain, he realized, but from the depth of her love for him. He prayed she could see how much he loved her. He wasn’t a man who could make speeches about that kind of thing.
When her breaths grew shaky and quick, he knew it was time. Vicious nuzzled her neck with his nose and thrust faster. He made sure to snap his hips in the way that made her gasp. At that first deep moan, he pressed his lips to her ear and declared aloud what she already knew. “I love you, Kitten.”
She climaxed quietly, her body undulating and her fingers biting into h
is skin. He jerked his hips twice and slammed deep as he exploded in pure pleasure. They clutched and groped and kissed as the tremors of ecstasy rippled through them.
Vicious rolled onto his back and tugged Hallie with him. She draped herself across his body and dozed off in his arms. He rubbed her back and played with her hair until she finally roused. He let his fingertips drift a bit lower and grazed her backside. She hissed and shivered. With a soft chuckle, he pulled away. He placed a noisy kiss on her cheek. “Wait here.”
He found the tube of ointment in one of the drawers and an ice pack. He gave the pack a shake to activate the crystals inside and stopped in the bathroom for a hand towel. Back in the bedroom, he sat on the edge of the bed and turned Hallie onto her stomach. “This will probably hurt a little but it will help you heal faster.”
“What’s in it?” Her voice was slightly muffled by a pillow so she turned her head. “The ointment, I mean.”
“No idea,” he admitted. “It’s something we carry in our med kits when we’re in the field. It wasn’t meant for this use but it works damn well.”
“Is it bad?” She gazed over her shoulder. “The bruising?”
He didn’t lie to her. His gaze swept the dark-red area. “It’s fairly dark, especially on your pale skin. You have some bright-red stripes from the cane.”
“Is it strange that I’m kind of proud of that?”
He laughed. “No. I know a few couples who are into the heavier side of our lifestyle. Their wives seem to cherish their bruises.” He dabbed the clear ointment onto her bruised butt and winced at the awful stripes he’d left. “We aren’t doing this again, Hallie. Not this far,” he amended. “This was a special circumstance.”
She relaxed under his rubbing hand. “I didn’t like most of it either. I know why we did it and I do feel better about what happened back on the Jesco colony.”
“But?”
“I saw your face, Vicious. I know it hurt you.”
“It did,” he admitted. “If I hadn’t been convinced your guilt would fester, I never could have finished it.” He wiped his fingers on the hand towel before placing it over her butt. He rested the ice pack on the towel. “We’ll leave this on for fifteen minutes.”
For a while, she was silent. His fingertips traveled up and down her calf. When she spoke again, her voice was curious. “Could we try again?”
“Try what?”
“You know, the cuffs and maybe the spanking,” she clarified, her tone filled with anxiety. “I mean, if you want to…”
“I want to,” he assured her. “But it’s not necessary if you don’t enjoy it.”
“Are you sure?”
He frowned at her question. She seemed unusually uncertain. “What’s going on, Hallie?”
“Nothing.”
He pinched her thigh and she yelped. “The truth, Kitten, or maybe I’ll take you up on that spanking offer right now.”
“Okay! It’s just…I don’t want you to be unhappy with me. I know you like this kind of rough love. You wouldn’t have a room dedicated to it if you didn’t enjoy it.” She glanced back at him. “I don’t want you to change for me, Vicious. I want you to be happy with me but not at that cost.”
“Where in the world is this coming from, Kitten? We’ve been together almost six weeks. Have I given you some indication that I’m not happy with you?”
“No.”
“Hallie,” he said, his tone firm. “Tell me the truth.”
“Look, Terror said—”
“Stop right there.” He cut her off the second he heard his best friend’s name. “Terror doesn’t know the first thing about loving a woman. Don’t listen to a word that comes out of his mouth on that subject. Understood?”
“Yes.”
He moved to the head of the bed so he could see her as he spoke. “Hallie, I love you. I love our relationship, just as it is. Would I like to explore the rougher side of love? Yes. Do I understand that you’re going to need time to become comfortable with some of it? Absolutely.” He cupped her chin and smiled. “We’re fine. We’re moving at our own pace and that’s just fine.”
She visibly relaxed. “I do want to try new things with you. I trust you. I love you.”
Joy filled him. He brought her hand to his chest. “I wish you could understand how that makes me feel to hear you say that, Hallie. I never imagined…” He stopped as his emotions became too strong. Clearing his throat, he finished, “I love you too.”
She smiled knowingly but didn’t press him to be any more revealing. She seemed to understand that there were simply some things he couldn’t do. Being lovey-dovey and sappy was one of them.
When the fifteen minutes passed, Vicious took away the ice pack and towel. He slid down into bed with her and enjoyed the feeling of Hallie snuggled up against him. His fingers moved to the thin white bride’s collar around her neck. They were nearing the time when a couple usually moved into a different color of leather choker. Most chose red or black but he’d seen some stranger colors lately. Green and blue seemed popular. A bright-pink collar had gotten his attention in the shopping center last week.
What would he choose for Hallie? He’d already picked out the tag he’d dangle from the front of her collar. That had been easy. Choosing her color wouldn’t be. To him, she’d always be his wide-eyed, innocent bride. Marking her with red or black just seemed too harsh.
“What are you thinking about?” She glanced up at him and touched his jaw. “You’re awfully quiet.”
“Our commitment,” he answered.
“Really?” She seemed surprised. “I thought this,” she touched her collar, “was as far as that went.”
He shook his head. “It’s customary for a man to present his wife with a new collar after their first few months together. I’m sure you’ve noticed your friend Lenny wears a red collar.”
“I did.”
He picked up on her odd tone. She sounded almost upset. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.” She sat up and smiled at him, but the expression was stiff and forced. “I need something to drink. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll get it for you.”
“No.” She pressed him back into bed. “I’ll go.”
Confused, he watched her leave. Her shoulders were tight and her steps hurried. Had he said something wrong? Considering his track record, it was likely. He replayed their conversation.
Commitment. Had she thought he meant a proper commitment ceremony like the ones common on her planet? A marriage? To hear him offer a new collar when she might have been expecting something else—a ring and a ceremony—must have hurt her badly.
“Hell!” Vicious swore and threw his legs over the side of the bed. He stood and quickly left their bedroom. As he crossed the living room, he realized that even though he didn’t need a big, romantic gesture to seal his commitment to Hallie, she did. His love for her would never change. No ceremony or collar or ring would change that but she needed this.
He found her in the kitchen sipping water. She wasn’t crying, thankfully, but there was no mistaking how upset she was. Her gaze lifted to his and she placed the glass on the counter. “What is it, Vicious?”
He wasn’t sure how this worked. It seemed strange to ask her when she already belonged to him. Still, he had to try. For Hallie, he’d do anything.
He cleared his throat. “Will you share a marriage ceremony with me?”
Her eyes widened and she brought a hand to her chest. “What?”
Uncertainty rippled through him. She looked confused. “Am I doing it wrong?”
“Will you marry me?” she whispered. “That’s the way it goes.”
“I see.” He took a step closer and reached for her hand. She came to him, her lips curving in a sweet smile. He cupped her face and brushed his thumb across her cheek. “Will you marry me, Kitten?”
“Yes.”
Happiness welled inside him, the bright, warm feeling spreading through his chest and wrapping arou
nd his heart. She lifted on tiptoes to kiss him. Their lips teased together and separated. She grinned mischievously. “What?”
With a giggle, she said, “Just remember, I asked you first.”
Chapter Nineteen
“I can’t believe my baby sister is getting married!”
Hallie laughed at Bernie’s outburst. “Technically, I’ve been married for almost two months.”
Bernie waved her hand and settled into the comfy corner of the couch. Hallie still hadn’t gotten used to the sight of her sister aboard the Valiant. “That’s Grabbed. Grabbed is different from married.”
Hallie couldn’t argue that. “I’m still shocked that he asked. I mean, you know Vicious now. He’s not exactly the most touchy-feely of men.”
“No. Honestly, Hal, I don’t know how you can live with him. He’s terrifying.” She shook her head. “They all are. I’m so glad I get to go back to my tiny little apartment on Jesco and surround myself with normal-sized men.”
Hallie seized her opening. “Are you dating someone?”
“No. I don’t think this is the time to date.” She rubbed her even bigger baby bump. “I mean, well, it’s complicated.”
Hallie smiled. “Isn’t it always when it comes to men?”
Bernie laughed. “It does seem that way.” She played with the floral embroidery on her pale-pink blouse. “He’s a doctor at the clinic and has a little boy in my daycare class. Not the prenatal side of the clinic,” she clarified. “He’s a surgeon and a widower.”
“Oh. Wow.” She hesitated. “Does he know about…?”
She nodded. “We’ve had breakfast a few times. The subject of the baby’s father came up and I told him the truth. Well,” she said quickly, “not the part about you and the Red Feather helping me off Calyx, but the other stuff.”
“How did he take it?”
“He didn’t care. He said we all make mistakes. My past is my past. This is my future.”
Hallie smiled. “Vicious said the same thing to me when I finally told him about my involvement in the Red Feather.”
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