Bring On the Heat

by Eden Bradley

  After getting out of the shower, Callie dressed in a pair of soft wool pants and an angora sweater. Sitting down at the vanity, she carefully styled her hair and applied makeup. Her parents threw a huge party every Christmas Eve, and Callie knew they would expect her to play the role of the perfect daughter—the fact that they’d hardly communicated since she’d left town notwithstanding.

  She drove to her parents’ house and did her best to be polite to her father’s work colleagues, her mother’s society matrons, and the various neighbors and other friends who stopped by. The memory of Sir’s punishment was too fresh in her mind to go anywhere near the bar, which was a pity, because having a drink or two in her would’ve livened up the crowd a little. The party ended a little after midnight, and she staggered home, exhausted from the façade she’d had to maintain all evening.

  Returning on Christmas morning, she attended church with her parents and then went back to their house, where another large party was forming. Her mother had the meal catered, just like last night’s had been, so at least the food was good. She refused even a small glass of wine, though, knowing Jack was expecting to see her later and wanting to be clearheaded for that. By the time she’d slogged her way through another torturous day of playing the doting daughter, she’d built up quite a head of steam.

  As Callie drove to his house, she decided they were going to have a serious talk. She arrived and rang the bell, and while she waited on his doorstep, her anger built even more. Was he even home? What was taking him so long to answer his damn door? She was freezing out there on the porch and having to wait while he took his sweet time wasn’t helping her mood one bit. By the time he finally appeared, she simply surged past him and turned around, crossing her arms over her breasts.

  “Beauty, is something wrong?” he asked, crossing his own arms.

  Trying not to get distracted by the sight of his T-shirt pulled tight over his biceps and chest, she cried, “Damn right, something is wrong!”

  “All right. Calm down and we’ll talk about it.” He sounded entirely too reasonable, which only pissed her off even more.

  Barely resisting the urge to stomp her foot, she cried, “Don’t tell me to calm down!”

  “Beauty…”

  Callie heard the warning tone of his voice, but this time she would not be deterred. “I want to talk about yesterday.”

  “What about it?”

  “You had no right to punish me!”

  One dark, arrogant brow rose. “Oh?”

  “No, you didn’t. I’m not your full-time sub! I’m not subject to your rules.”

  “No, and we need to talk about that. I want some answers about why you left the last time we tried this. However, if we’re talking about yesterday, you’re under my protection right now, and you did something you knew damn well was stupid and careless. What kind of Dom would I be if I didn’t punish you for that?”

  The rest of his words faded into the background. “Under your protection? What is this, Victorian England?”

  He threw her an exasperated glance. “You know what I mean. When you’re subbing for me, I’m responsible for you. It’s a basic BDSM tenet and you know that.”

  Unable to stop herself, Callie did stomp her foot this time and growled when the corners of Jack’s mouth twitched. “This is not funny!”

  Jack’s eyes turned dark and stormy in an instant, and Callie had to fight not to retreat. “You know what? You’re right, it’s not funny at all. If you’re just going to do whatever the hell you want, then why are you here? Why did you agree to submit to me again? Why did you bother to come over tonight?”

  “Because I wanted to tell you I didn’t appreciate being treated like that.” She couldn’t believe he didn’t get it.

  Jack pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. “You’re a sub! A submissive. You’re submissive to me!” He jerked his thumb toward his chest. “You know what being submissive means, and don’t even try to tell me you don’t. You’re not new at this—in the back of your mind, you must’ve known how I would react. You know how I feel about drunk driving.”

  Callie rubbed her forehead. “You’re right, I do, and that part I’m sorry about. Look, I don’t want to fight with you. Maybe I need some time to think. I haven’t subbed for anyone since—”

  He ruthlessly cut in. “Since you left me?”

  She bit her lip for a moment before replying, “Yes.”

  He went and opened the door. “Take all the time you need. I won’t force your submission—you know me better than that.”

  She was more than a little surprised he was letting her go this easily, especially after what had happened before. “You’re taking this pretty calmly. Does it really not bother you that I want to leave right now?”

  He slammed the door shut again and stalked across the room. Jack grabbed her, walking her backward until she felt the cold wall behind her. “Let’s get one thing straight: it bothers the hell out of me that you want to leave right now. It bothers me that I don’t know if you want to leave just for tonight or forever. I don’t know what you want, and I can’t read your mind, but yeah, it bothers me that you want to leave. Bank on that.”

  “Then why aren’t you fighting for me?”

  He planted his hands on both sides of her head, trapping her between him and the wall. “You want me to fight for you? You want me to prove how much I want you to stay? How much I want you?”

  Her chest was heaving with the effort to breathe. She could only nod. With a groan, he pushed his body into hers and took her lips in a deep, drugging kiss. He hadn’t really kissed her since that first day they’d been back together, and she melted into him, forcing her hands between their bodies to clutch the front of his shirt. His tongue plunged into her mouth, and any protest she might’ve had about his high-handedness died in her throat as he continued to seduce her with his lips, tongue, and teeth. She moaned and pushed in closer. This was what she wanted—to know he needed her as desperately as she needed him.

  He thrust a powerful thigh between her legs and dropped his hands to palm her ass. She gave a little moan, which he promptly swallowed, and then Jack lifted her so she was riding his leg. After a moment, he pushed away and tugged at the button of her jeans. “Get these off.”

  Callie didn’t even consider arguing. Sliding her down to the floor, Sir helped her remove her pants before unzipping his own jeans. He pulled out his hard cock and rubbed it between her thighs. “So wet for me…”

  Moaning again, Callie grabbed his biceps. He picked her up and lifted her onto his erection, her legs circling his waist. Her head fell back against the wall with a thud as he fully seated himself within her. “Fuck, you feel so good.” He began to thrust, and she matched him movement for movement. “I want to fuck you right through this wall,” he panted, his hips snapping again and again, sending frissons of pleasure spiraling outward from her pussy. After another moment, he withdrew and fell to his knees, pulling her to his mouth. “I have to taste you.”

  He licked from bottom to top once, twice, a third time, while she writhed, plunging both hands into his thick, wavy black hair to keep his mouth on her. She had to lock her knees to stay upright as he latched on to her clit, stroking it with the flat of his tongue using short, heavy strokes. He stopped just long enough to say, “Come for me, beauty.”

  On his command, she fractured, jolts of electricity pulsing through every cell. He continued to play her while her release abated; then he stood up and plunged his cock back inside. It only took a few hard, short thrusts for him to come too, and he let out a primal grunt as he emptied himself into her. They both stood there, panting, until Jack swore viciously.

  Callie’s head snapped up in alarm. “What?”

  “We didn’t solve anything, and doing this certainly didn’t help.” He tucked himself back into his jeans, leaving her strangely bereft. “That was a shitty thing for me to do. If you want to go, I’ll understand.” He turned away.

  “I don’t
want to go,” Callie whispered.

  Jack glanced back, running his hand over his face, and Callie shuddered. She’d never seen him look so ruffled and out of sorts. He’d always the rock before—the one she leaned on, the one who guided her.

  “I’m not sure my mood right now is conducive to a healthy scene.”

  “I don’t want a scene. I just want you.”

  She started to reach into her purse for her collar, but Jack shook his head. “Not like this, not in my current state of mind. Go, Callie. Think about everything, and call me tomorrow.”

  “If that’s what you want.” She looked at him and saw a flicker of something, but he schooled his expression. Whatever it was had disappeared before she could identify it.

  “It’s what I want.”

  Callie looked at him for another moment, and when his expression didn’t change, she hurriedly dressed, picked up her coat and purse, and left. She was out the door and in her car before she really even knew what had happened. Sure, she’d gone over there in anger, but he’d made a lot of good points. And then things had spun out of control, and he’d taken her against the wall, which he’d never done before. It had seemed like he was desperate for her, like he couldn’t get enough—couldn’t control himself. He had never behaved like that before. What was different? Callie shook her head to clear it. She wouldn’t find any answers sitting there in the cold. Sighing, she started the car and pulled out of Jack’s driveway.

  ~ * ~

  EIGHT

  Callie woke the next morning and trudged to the kitchen on leaden feet. Lora looked up, her eyes wide. “I thought you were staying at Jack’s house last night.”

  “I was supposed to, but we kind of got in a fight.”

  “How do you ‘kind of’ get into a fight?”

  Callie sat and rubbed her temples. She had a splitting headache. “Okay, we didn’t kind of anything. We really got into one.”

  “Do you wanna talk about it?”

  “No, not particularly.” She’d thought about their fight for hours when she’d gotten home last night and still hadn’t come to a good conclusion. Even after turning it over and over in her mind, she didn’t know what had happened. Through it all, though, one thing remained: Callie wasn’t sure Jack had it in him to give her what she needed. The thought left her cold, and she shivered.

  “Do you want me to turn up the heat? Are you cold?”

  “No, just a little chilled. I can grab a sweater.”

  “Want some coffee?”

  Callie smiled, figuring Lora would leave her alone if she looked happy enough. “Sure, I’d love some. I’ll be back in a minute.”

  She went to her room and grabbed her big, fluffy sweater, pulling it right over her sleep shirt before returning to the kitchen. A steaming mug of coffee sat waiting on the table. “Thanks, Lora. I appreciate all you’ve done for me—letting me stay here, taking care of me…”

  Lora regarded her with a puzzled expression. “Of course, honey—what else would I do?” She paused for a beat. “Are you going to see Jack today?”

  Callie chuckled, but there was no warmth behind it. “I have no idea. He told me to go home and think about things and then call him today. But I thought and thought and thought about it last night and came to no conclusion. I don’t want to lose what we just rediscovered, but on the other hand I’m not sure he can make me happy long-term.”

  Lora placed her hand on Callie’s shoulder and squeezed. “You’ll figure it out. You always do.”

  “I wish I had that much faith in myself.”

  “Don’t we all.” Lora left the kitchen, and Callie wrapped her ice-cold hands around her coffee mug. She hadn’t been able to warm up since she’d left Jack’s house last night. Pulling the sleeves of her sweater down to cover her hands, she stared out the back door at the falling snow outside. Unfortunately it didn’t hold any answers to her dilemma.

  Her cell phone rang, and she rose to get it from the counter where she’d left it to charge. She spied Jack’s name on the caller ID, and her heart sped up until she could feel it pounding against her ribs.

  “Hello?”

  “Callie?”

  “Yes, Sir, hello.”

  “I think we should talk. Are you able to come see me?”

  “Yes. I need to shower, but I can be over in about an hour.”

  “Good. See you then.”

  He hung up, and she pulled the phone away from her ear, staring at it for a moment. She had no idea what to make of the conversation. Was he angry? Feeling guilty? Did he still want her? Did she want him? God, she did. Oh, she really did. But if she was going to have him, she wanted all of him. She couldn’t accept anything less. It would kill her.

  She rushed through her shower and made it to his house in forty-five minutes. He let her in and took her coat. “Sit, Callie. Don’t kneel—sit on the floor.”

  The tone of his voice made it impossible to argue—not that she would’ve anyway. She was curious about what he’d say.

  He pushed a hand through his hair and blew out a harsh breath. “First of all, I wanted to say I’m sorry I took you against the wall like a rutting beast.”

  “Did you hear me complaining?”

  “No, but I apologize nonetheless. And about the other matter—of me punishing you? There I disagree with you. I thought about it a lot, and I believe I had every right to discipline you for your actions. I’m not sorry I did it. Me correcting you, when I feel you’re doing something physically or emotionally harmful, was part of the contract you signed.”

  Callie nodded, sighing. Screwing up her courage, she said, “You’re right, it was, and that gives you the right to discipline me as you see fit.”

  His eyebrows rose. “So you’re agreeing?”

  “Yeah. If I’m going to submit to you, I can’t have it both ways.” She gazed at him steadily, and when he didn’t say anything, she continued. “I have to be responsible for my behavior, and if I’m not, I have to accept any decision you make to punish me.”

  “Does this also mean you’re agreeing to truly submit to me?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “No more topping from the bottom?”

  She almost smiled, but she thought better of it. “No, Sir, no more topping from the bottom.”

  His expression changed in a heartbeat, and Callie sucked in a breath.

  “Go in the playroom, undress, and get on the table on your back. Spread your legs, and put your arms over your head. I’ll put on your collar when I get in there.”

  She rushed to comply. Glancing back, she watched in fascination as Jack slipped even further into his Dom persona. His face set into hard lines, and his eyes went dark. He even seemed to stand straighter when he was dominating her. A chill chased down her spine.

  ~ * ~

  When Jack walked into the playroom a few minutes later after willing his dick to subside and his blood to stop boiling, he noticed immediately that Callie had indeed followed his instructions. Even with her declaration earlier, he hadn’t been sure if she would defy him. He really should’ve made her kneel first and present her collar to him to reinforce her protocol, but he’d been on such shaky ground and hadn’t wanted to push it. Now, though, he was ready to push it and her.

  Going to his toy cabinet, he pulled out wrist cuffs. He’d had restraints built into the table, of course, but these would allow for more flexibility to account for her neck injury. As he continued to rummage, he said, mostly to himself, “Maybe a blindfold, too.” She offered nothing in response, and after attaching the cuffs, he returned to the cabinet, grabbed a blindfold, and placed it around her head. He knew she couldn’t see a damn thing, but asked anyway, just to make her a little more aware of her current limitations. “Can you see?”

  “No, Sir.”

  “And are the cuffs comfortable?” They were fleece-lined, and he’d run a finger between them and her skin when he’d applied them, as he always did, but wanted her confirmation.

  “Yes, Sir.” />
  “Good. Then we’ll begin.” Reaching over to the table with her gifts on it, he lifted the cock gag out of the pile. “Open up.” She did, and he slid the two-inch silicone head in. Bringing the Velcro straps of the gag to the back of her head, he closed them and gave her the scarf she could use in place of her safe word. He stood back for a second, looking at his beautiful submissive. As expected, seeing the cock gag stuffed in her mouth made him hard as oak, and he absentmindedly rubbed the front of his pants to lessen the ache.

  He turned and looked at the array of other items. Picking up the snowflake nipple shields, he smiled. A whimsical toy, to be sure, but when he’d spotted them in the store, he’d starting thinking about Callie’s swollen, red nipples peeking through the delicate silver flakes and had instantly sprung a woody. Lowering his head, he took one of her breasts into his mouth and suckled hard. Callie jerked on her bonds, and he swallowed a chuckle. Every reaction he got from her just made him want her more and more.

  When her nipple was distended properly, he slid the shield on and walked around to her other side, keeping contact with her body as he moved. After applying the second snowflake, he stood back to admire his handiwork. “Gorgeous…” He planned to save the vibrator for later, if she was a good girl. He grabbed his bag of clothespins and started to work. The clothespins were made for BDSM play. They had a rubberized inside and held better than standard clothespins. He attached them all around each breast and then set to work clipping them to Callie’s labia. While he worked, he heard Callie’s breathing speeding up, and he prayed for control.

  Finished, Jack returned to her head and smoothed back her hair as best he could with the straps for both the blindfold and the gag around her head. “Still with me, beauty?” She nodded. “If you’re truly all right, squeeze my hand three times.” Placing his hand in her bound one, he waited. She squeezed, and he counted, one, two, three. “Good girl,” he crooned.