She obeyed, slowing her movements.
“Gods, that mouth.” His pupils dilated. “I want you here, with me. Let the rest of it go.”
“It?”
“Everything. For this to work, you have to let me run the scene, run you, command your body and mind. I won’t allow you to top from the bottom. That’s not why you came to me. You wanted to find escape, to break down the old and do away with it, discover the drive behind your sexual psyche.” He maneuvered a thigh between her legs and pressed against the apex of her thighs, grinding into the heat of her. “Tell me what this makes you think of.”
Memories of his thick length jutting from his body made her core ache. She wanted to worship that body with tongue and teeth and fingers, tasting and touching every square inch of his flesh. “You.” She closed her eyes. “Before.”
Seeming to read her intent, he gave voice to her desire. “Let’s see if we can do a little better this time around. On your knees.”
A little better? If he did any better, she doubted she’d survive the experience. But the whole on-your-knees thing still pricked her pride. “Why do you keep insisting I go to my knees?”
“Not insisting. Demanding. And I do it because, deep down, you want me to. You want every responsibility taken away from you. You want someone else to call the shots. You want to find your limits but need someone to drive you toward them, because right now? You don’t recognize what you’re capable of.” Heavy hands settled on her shoulders. “On your knees.”
Eden stared up at him, her heart fluttering in her chest. What could she say? He was right. About all of it, he was right. She followed the press of his hands, sliding down the front of his body. The tip of his cock thrust past the unbuttoned slacks. She hungered for another taste of him. “May I? Sir.”
“You’ll take it all this time.” He ran his fingers through her hair and drove into her mouth the moment she opened to him.
Eden nearly choked.
The car stopped and the doors opened.
She tried to pull back, but Seth tightened his hold on her hair. His breath came fast, the strength of his thrusts pushing her to the razor’s edge of her comfort zone and over.
Releasing her hair, he wrapped one hand around the back of her head while lacing the fingers of the other through hers. He pulled up, stretching her arm over her head.
With her balance thrown off, she tipped forward and slid farther down his length. The broad head of his cock bumped the back of her throat. She fought not to gag.
Stygian satisfaction slid over Seth’s face.
That was all it took. What had been an exercise in curiosity became a matter of absolute need—the need to touch, to cede control, to satisfy him. She understood the appeal of submission. That look on his face. Goddess, that look! And she was responsible for it.
Fingers digging into the skin of his hip, Eden worked herself up and down his cock. She suckled. She teased. She fought her own physical desire in order to see to his. His shaft pulsed.
The elevator doors closed.
When he slammed a hand against the control panel, the car lurched to a stop. His back arched and he leaned into the hand. Cut muscles quivered. Knees bent, his hips pumped in time to her rise and descent along his length.
She pulled back and let him go.
Eyes only partially open, Seth growled, “I didn’t tell you to stop.”
The growled words raised goose bumps along her skin. “May I touch you, sir?”
He looked down. “You understand the rules.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You may, but don’t stop again until this is finished. Period.”
Her free hand slid between his legs as she again took him deep. The ridge behind his sac was swollen. A hard pulse passed through it. He shuddered as she pressed against him, massaging tender flesh. Then she relaxed her throat and took him all the way to the root.
He grunted, hand fisting in her hair again. His orgasm crashed through him, and his head fell back as he rode it out.
She relaxed under his firm touch as absolute bliss spread through her limbs and left her lethargic. He had control of the situation. She had seen to his pleasure, and now her only job was to be. That suited her just fine.
Seth pulled free with uncharacteristically harsh movements. “Sweet hell, woman.” The words shook.
Eden took a deep breath, brow furrowing at the sharp tone. “Did you get it back?”
His brows winged down. “What?”
She rested a hand on his bare thigh. “Your element. Did you get it back?”
The blank look on his face told her everything she needed to know.
Chapter Seven
Seth re-keyed his floor into the elevator control panel without a word. The idea he’d let go and lost himself in the woman—again—chapped the hell out of him. Reclaiming his element hadn’t crossed his mind. All he’d been able to think about was keeping her submissive, on her knees, her beatific face glazed with pleasure as she serviced him. How could he have been so stupid? He wanted to beat his head against the brushed nickel walls until his skull caved.
When the car stopped and the doors opened, he stepped into his playpen, an apartment that mirrored Griff’s in floor plan only. Whereas the incubus’s place was a pleasure pad, Seth’s was a regular den of iniquity. A Saint Andrew’s cross stood against the long living room wall. Shelves and hangers held a wide array of tools, some made to enhance pleasure while others simply delivered pain. Dark wood floors, grey walls and a variety of bondage pieces rounded out the open space. The bedroom, while it had a bed, was used more as a sitting area. It was the living room that saw all the action, with its bondage furniture and toy boxes.
Seth took it all in with a clinical yet dismissive eye. Stopping abruptly, he was shoved forward a step when the witch crashed into him.
“Sorry,” she murmured, hands parked on his waist.
“That’s two strokes because you weren’t invited to touch me again.”
“I would have thought I’d just earned a few points,” she said snarkily.
He stepped out of her reach before facing her. “You performed a physical act. Intimacy wasn’t required for it to be pleasurable.” Looking the room over, he made his decision. Might as well enjoy himself, and that meant seeing that the woman had an experience she’d never forget. “Shed your clothes. Fold them and put them on the counter. Shoes stay on.”
Small movements and the rustle of clothing preceded the click of high heels across hardwood.
“Step to the cross, face first, hands and feet spread.”
She looked at him, eyes wide.
“You look surprised.”
“I didn’t think—”
“Because that’s not your job tonight. I’ll handle the play. Your job is to figure out for yourself why you’re here.”
“Sounded like you had me all figured out earlier. Waffling now, oh, great and mighty Dom?”
Seth forced his tightening muscles to relax. “Let’s skip straight to five.”
“What? Why?” She shoved her hair out of her face.
So many ways he could answer that, but the primary truth was simplest. “Because belligerence isn’t tolerated up here. As to the why, I’ll assume you aren’t being catty when you ask. I believe you’ll release my element when you figure out how to willingly let go and let the moment rule you. That’s what happened when you orgasmed earlier, isn’t it?”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped before she caught herself and straightened. “I suppose.”
“Have I disappointed you?” he asked, jaw tight.
“What?” She whipped her gaze to his. “No. I just kind of hoped I might figure out why letting go is so appealing.”
“You know why. You just haven’t acknowledged it yet.”
Without further comment, she followed his earlier instructions.
“Excellent.” Seth moved in behind her, his cock twitching as he leaned against her heated skin and fastened the restraint
s he had in place. Waving a hand, he startled when the candles around the room failed to light. Mood darkening, he went through the scene in his head. He’d promised her five strokes. Might as well deliver.
Palming his semi-erect shaft with one hand and cupping his balls with the other, he leaned in and traced the shell of her ear with his tongue. His grip tightened when she shuddered. A soft cry escaped her when she tried to press her ass against him. The waist restraint stopped her. “I’ll initiate all touch. That’s your last warning. If I have to tell you again, punishment will shove right up against what you think you can take.”
The woman whimpered. Her hips jerked and brushed his swiftly hardening cock.
“You were warned.” A toy box sat open to one side, a variety of new items spilled across paddles, whips, weights, clamps and more. He spied his preferred item near the top. Grabbing the small, black latex cone, he peeled it free of its packaging and slathered it with lube. Fingers slick, he ran them along the seam of her sex, front to back.
“Holy shit,” she breathed.
He didn’t stop until he reached her rear entrance.
“Holy shit!”
“Shouting won’t change your fate.” Spreading the excess lube around, he paused to press one finger against the virginal opening. “You have one opportunity to safe-word out. If you don’t, I’m going to park this butt plug before you take your punishment.”
Fine tremors raced along her muscles and made her skin twitch. Her violent need made him crave her with a fierceness he’d never known, surpassing everything he thought he’d felt for women before. It couldn’t be her, though. Couldn’t be that she was his Keeper.
He hadn’t lied earlier when he’d told her about alternate Keepers being rare. They were. Exceedingly so. But the harshest truth in it all was the bond truly was irrefutable. It would be acknowledged throughout the ifrit as sacred. He’d be tied to her for life, honor-bound to see to her safety and happiness.
Jaw clenching, he laid one hand on the dip in her lower back. It had to be his element calling to him. That was the only explanation he would willingly entertain.
She shook hard enough to rattle the restraints.
The sound pulled him back into the moment, away from the threat she posed to his hard-and-fast personal barriers—one night only, no uninvited touching and, above all, no intimacy. Ever.
He traced the rounded tip of the plug along her ass, working it closer to her entrance. “Give me a color.”
“Green.”
“You beautiful girl,” he whispered.
Pulling her cheeks apart, he positioned the trainer and gently pressed forward.
She whimpered and tightened against the intrusion. “Yellow!”
“You will breathe through this. I’m going to work this in with each exhale. If you hold your breath? When you’re forced to gasp, I’ll shove. So the pace we go is up to you.”
The shaking intensified. “I don’t want responsibility.”
“And why is that?”
She stilled. “I have too much, don’t want any more.”
“What responsibilities could you possibly have?” When she didn’t answer, he pressed slightly. She gasped. “Six.” When he was still met with silence, he leaned into her, slipping the plug another centimeter as he nipped her earlobe. “Truth?”
She shook her head.
He ignored her, spoke anyway. “Life’s about choices. I’m telling you to make a choice regarding the pace at which we reach the outcome, but you know what?”
Again, a shake of her head.
“The outcome is out of your control.” He pressed the bulbous end forward, spreading her. “Now breathe through it.”
And like a premier sub, she did exactly as commanded.
* * *
Eden’s ass was on fire. The burn licked up her tailbone and swept through her pelvis. Pressure and pain became her entire world as Seth stretched her wider, drove her to take her punishment. She’d never assumed he’d take this route. When she’d set the boundary, she knew he’d heard her hesitation, knew he’d seen through her denied interest. It hadn’t dawned on her he would push her so hard and fast, though.
Then there was her admission. It had stunned her, spilling out without thought or consideration. Such brutal, unfettered truth. Just like this was truth, this bending of her will—and body—to his. She bloomed under his touch. His directives gave her a heady sense of inexplicable freedom. Life boiled down to the most fundamental “do” and “don’t do” commands. Responsibility ceased to exist. It was a matter of best choosing how to accomplish what he wanted.
The pressure against her ass increased again.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to relax. The plug slipped in. She yelped and involuntarily clamped down.
“Now’s the time to tighten that ass. You’re going to hold the plug in place while you take your six strokes.” Clothing rustled. “Answer me if you understand.”
“Why wouldn’t I understand?” she snapped, trying to wiggle and dislodge the plug.
His hand caressed her ass and pressed the plug deeper. “That’s seven.”
Muscled thighs pressed against hers as one hand gripped her hip, the other spreading her labia. His erection prodded her entrance.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“That’s eight, and if you don’t stop talking, I’m going to gag you.”
Eden held her breath. Gag? Definitely not something they’d negotiated.
A harsh moan escaped her as he breached her outer folds. The full feeling intensified as he worked his way in, finessing, shoving and pausing, only to repeat the cycle.
“I promised you strokes.” His tight voice skipped across her equally tight senses. “I never promised what kind I’d deliver.” Hips rolling with excruciating precision, he raked his cock over her G-spot with every withdrawal. His testicle slapped her engorged clit with every hard drive forward.
The actions—slow then fast, tender then brutal—ignited every nerve in her body. She couldn’t think. Her world was reduced to sensation interpretation as her body trembled beneath his. She wanted more. Needed him to give her everything in this moment, just as she wanted to give him everything in return, to submit to his will, his commands, his desires.
He stepped back, breaking all contact.
This time when she moaned it was in desperation. A gentle slap to her ass wiggled the butt plug, and she cried out.
“I’m going to drive you so high you lose your damn mind. Then you’re going to return my element. Agree.” The bite of the last word was like a hard lash to tender skin.
Eden whimpered. “Sir.”
“That’s not an answer.” Another swat, this one harder. “Try again.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Yes, sir, what?” A stronger smack.
Her sex flooded with arousal, the burn in her ass igniting, spreading, until she was shaking violently.
“Give me a color.” When she hesitated, pressing her forehead to the exotic wood of the cross, he threaded fingers through her hair and pulled her head back. “Name your color.”
“Green,” she gasped.
“You surprise me. That, in itself, is worth a reward.”
Something soft—a feather?—traced the underside of her arms, down her sides and across the stinging skin on her butt. “Sir.”
“Easy. Just experience the different sensations.”
Tender strokes followed by increasingly heavy swats reached a crescendo when he took a flat paddle to her with firm, swift upstrokes that made her tighten around the plug. The orgasm that had hovered at the fringes of her awareness slammed into her with merciless brutality. Her scream was dragged from the deepest part of her consciousness, echoing around the room as her body shook and her awareness fractured. On and on it went until she was sobbing, pleading wordlessly for what she didn’t know.
Seth was suddenly there, whispering in her ear, supporting her body as she sagged in the restraints. One buckle at
a time, he released her. Then she was in his arms, freezing as she trembled violently. Soft words of encouragement to drink as he handed her a bottle of water and wrapped her in a blanket meant little, but his touch?
His touch meant everything.
Chapter Eight
Seth held the diminutive woman in his arms as he eased her onto the bondage table. She felt so slight, fragile even. The shakes had taken over as she began to emerge from subspace, leaving her in mild physical shock. The endorphin rush acted like a drug, and her body didn’t know what to do when the chemicals burned off. Nature did its thing, purging the system and resetting the brain. He hated seeing her struggle, but there was an undeniable rush of his own in knowing he’d taken her places she’d feared going. It was like being an explorer in a way, discovering territories neither knew had existed within her. They just happened to be psychological versus geographical.
“Right. I’m Lewis to her Clark.” He was officially a Freudian nightmare, reduced to assessing the scene like the shrink he wasn’t. Gods, the last thing he needed was to start thinking like this, digging into her psyche. He was a hot mess and he knew it. No way should he be tunneling through the elements that made her tick and trying to sort them out. That bespoke emotional investment and repeat performances. Neither could ever happen. Not for him. He simply hadn’t been programmed that way. The darkness in him was too much for one woman to bear.
Shifting in his arms, a particularly hard tremor rocked through her. A tear breeched the lower dam of her lashes. Even though he understood the how and why of it, the sight gutted him. The instinct was completely at odds with his personal standards. Aftercare was important, but it was also impersonal. This? This wasn’t impersonal. Still, he pulled her closer.
“Slow your breathing and ride it out.” The command, though soft, left no room for disobedience. He wasn’t sure whether or not to let her completely surface from subspace or keep her there a while longer. Slipping a hand under the blanket, he traced heated skin and brushed the flat of the butt plug.
“Green,” she whispered, voice husky.
He froze. Green? Surely she didn’t mean…
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