by Opal Carew
She sighed, staring at the ceiling, her limbs still stretched wide by the restraints. She had no covers and lay there total exposed. He probably had a camera so he could observe her. Stare at her naked body. Ensure she was okay.
As much as he’d left her here alone and chained up, she knew he would come back if she needed him.
Time passed as she lay there. She found herself dozing off, then waking again. Wondering when he would return. She wondered if she should thrash at the chains. Do something to draw him back into the room.
But what if he didn’t come back even then?
She sighed. She was his captive. If she thrashed, he probably wouldn’t come back, letting her act out her role.
What she really wanted to know was whether this time together had changed his view on continuing a relationship with her.
* * *
Erik watched her on the webcam. There were several cameras in the room giving different views. He was watching the stream from the one above her on the ceiling.
She looked so uncertain. So lost.
She’d been in there for two hours—having slept for half that time. He knew he should go and bring her out. But he just wanted to watch her.
He heard the timer ding. The premade lasagna he’d put in the oven was ready. He closed the webcam window and pushed himself to his feet.
Although he would prefer to leave her there at a safe distance where he wouldn’t be tempted to touch her... to make love to her again... she would be hungry and thirsty, and she’d need to stretch her legs.
And he needed to move forward.
He pulled the lasagna from the oven and placed it on the hot plate on the table, then walked to the dungeon.
As he stepped into the room, she turned to gaze at him. She said nothing as he walked toward her. He unfastened her wrists first. She sat up and rubbed them as he freed her ankles.
He waited while she stood up. She took a step toward him and wrapped her arms around him, resting her head against his shoulder.
He wanted to wrap his arms around her and kiss her. To coax her tongue into his mouth and suckle it softly. That would lead to him pushing her back on the bed and taking her hard and fast.
Which she would probably love.
He disentangled her arms from around him, then strode from the room. She followed behind him.
When he reached the kitchen and turned to see her about to sit at the table, totally naked, he knew he couldn’t cope with being in the same room with her like that.
“Go put some clothes on.”
Her eyes widened and she hesitated.
“Now!” he commanded with force.
She scurried away, then returned a few minutes later wearing the jeans and T-shirt from earlier.
“Now sit down and eat.”
He’d heaped a large piece of lasagna onto her plate and sat a small bowl of salad beside it before beginning his own meal.
She sank into her chair and took a bite of the lasagna.
“It’s good,” she said.
He said nothing. As they ate, she kept watching him, her eyes uncertain.
“Erik, I wanted to talk about—”
“Silence, captive. I want a quiet meal.”
Her lips compressed and she stared at her plate. Finally, she took a bite of salad.
He finished his meal before her, and carried his plate to the counter.
“Clean up when you’re done, then go right to bed. We’re leaving early in the morning.”
“What? But I thought we had more time?”
“I’ve decided we’re done.” He turned and walked toward the door.
“But… Erik, please.”
Fuck, he’d intended to walk away, shutting her out tonight, then leaving her once and for all tomorrow. But the anxiety in her voice stopped him.
“What?” he said without turning around.
He felt her behind him. Then her hand rested on his arm and he had to fight two conflicting urges. One to snatch his arm away. The other to pull her into his arms and devour her mouth.
He stood unmoving.
“Has this time together changed your mind about us continuing a relationship?”
He turned to face her. “No. There is no relationship between us and there never will be.”
The pain in her eyes tore at his heart.
She tightened her hand around his arm. “Please,” she murmured. “What can I do to change your mind?”
“Nothing.”
He started to pull away, but she held tight.
“But… I’m in love with you.”
He frowned, his eyes hard on her. “No, you just think you are. Why do you think you’d fall in love with a man who told you right up front that he didn’t want a relationship with you? You were in a relationship before where the man didn’t love you and rejected you in the end. Clearly, you’re setting yourself up for the same pattern of rejection. But with me, you can sink into being my slave. Convince yourself none of this is about you. Then somewhere along the way you’ll finally realize you don’t love me and leave. Or you figure I’ll walk out on you and you can convince yourself again you don’t want love.”
He leaned closer to her.
“You might want to continue old patterns,” he continued, “but I’m not about to let myself fall in love with a woman who doesn’t really love me back.”
She shook her head. “My love for you is real. I know we haven’t known each other very long, but I know it’s true.”
“Just like you did with your ex? You stayed with him for six years and only after he’d hurt you could you see the truth that you never really loved him.”
He took her hand and squeezed. “Kalie, I don’t want to hurt you like that. The sooner I end it with you, the sooner you’ll realize your love for me is a lie.”
She shook her head. “It’s not. I know it.”
But he walked away. Once in his bedroom, he locked the door.
During the night, he heard her try to open it. When she realized the door was locked, she knocked. He didn’t answer, so she pounded.
“Stop that or I’ll come out there and gag you, then tie you to your bed.”
The pounding stopped and he eventually fell asleep.
In the morning, after he’d showered and dressed, he opened the door to find her curled up on the carpet outside his door. Naked and asleep.
“Wake up, Kalie. We leave in half an hour.”
He stepped over her and continued into the kitchen to pour himself a coffee.
* * *
On the plane, Kalie tried to talk to him, but he shut her down every time, finally threatening to bind and gag her.
Oh, God, her heart ached as she watched him read. She’d lost her chance with him. And it was so much worse now than it had been before, because now she knew she loved him. Deeply and completely. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. She felt safe in his arms. Loved and protected. And she saw the love in his eyes, too. But he was lying to himself. As completely as she’d lied to herself about not wanting love.
After the plane touched down, he guided her to the waiting limo and got in with her. Too soon they were at her apartment. The driver opened the door for her.
She turned to Erik, longing to see some warmth in his eyes. Anything to give her some small hope.
But his eyes were cold and detached.
She wanted to grasp his hand. To cling to him and beg that he reconsider.
She dropped her gaze, then got out of the car. Her heart broke as the shiny black limo drove away.
* * *
Erik stared out the window of his office. It was late, but he didn’t feel like going home yet.
It had been two weeks since his time with Kalie and the whole time since he’d parted from her, he hadn’t felt like being at home alone. He kept himself busy at work, staying late into the night, going home exhausted and falling into bed. But still sleep eluded him.
Because all he could think about was Kalie… an
d how much he wanted her in his bed.
Fuck, what the hell was wrong with him? First Sylvia, now Kalie. After his experience with Sylvia, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t fall for Kalie. He didn’t want that kind of pain again
Yet here he was.
Well, enough. There was one thing he could do right now to help.
He picked up the phone.
* * *
Erik walked into the bar and glanced around. He needed to talk this thing through.
He spotted the table in the corner and walked over and pulled out a chair.
“You look like hell,” Luke Grant said as Erik sat down.
“Well, then I look like I feel.”
A waitress approached the table and placed a bottle of dark ale in a tall glass on the table.
“I thought you’d like their specialty home brew so I went ahead and ordered for you,” Grant said.
Erik tipped back the glass. It was full bodied and a little bitter with a hint of orange. He did like it.
“So any particular reason you wanted to meet for a drink, or you just want to catch up?”
Erik knew damned well that Grant would know all about Erik and Kalie. And how it had ended. Kalie was a good friend of Sylvia’s and surely she’d told Sylvia what had happened.
“I guess I want to know how it’s going with you and Sylvia.”
Grant smiled. “Sylvia and Slade and I are making it work.”
Erik knew Slade had become part of their relationship, but it was Grant that Sylvia loved.
“You fought having a relationship with Sylvia so hard. What made you finally think you could make it work?” Erik asked.
Grant chuckled. “I got pulled into it kicking and screaming. But in the end, I had to face the fact I love her. And once I understood that…” He shrugged. “I really had no choice. I was miserable without her, so I had to find a way to make it work.”
Erik sipped his beer. “But for a long time, you were sure you didn’t love her.”
“I was a fool. And, you know, deep inside I really did know I loved her. But I thought I could keep her with me as just my sub, and keep my feelings locked up inside. But she needed more than that. When she left, I realized I had no choice but to get over my fear.”
Erik nodded. He knew Grant had gone through a rough time.
“But that’s not what’s going on with you and Kalie,” Grant continued. “You’re not afraid to love. You loved Sylvia.”
The beer Erik sipped turned sour in his mouth. “And look where it got me. Rejected and in pain.”
“But Sylvia didn’t reject you. You released her from the contract and gave her back to me.”
Erik sighed. “Yes, but I wouldn’t have if she’d loved me.”
“I understand you’re gun shy, but there’s a woman out there who loves you, and I’m betting you love her, too. So what’s stopping you from being happy?”
“You don’t know if she really loves me.”
Grant shrugged. “That’s true. There are no guarantees. But you’re already in pain and you don’t have to be. If you can be with her now and find some happiness, why don’t you? If things fall apart in the future, will it really be worse than it is right now?”
Grant sipped his beer and stared straight into Erik’s eyes.
“Why not take a chance on love? What do you have to lose?”
* * *
Kalie pushed away her half-eaten dinner with a sigh. The thought of a lonely evening ahead made her stomach churn. She knew she could call Becca and the others and go out for an evening together—in fact Jan had called her today to see if Kalie would join her for a movie—but as much as Kalie didn’t want to spend the evening alone, the thought of going out with her friends was too much for her.
There was a knock on the door.
Was that Becca with some excuse to come check on her?
Kalie walked to the door and peered out the peephole.
She sucked in a breath at the sight of Erik standing outside her door.
She opened it and stared at him with wide eyes, her heart racing.
Oh, God, he looked so handsome in his tailored charcoal suit, dove gray shirt and burgundy tie.
“May I come in?” he asked. His deep, velvety voice rippled through her.
“Yes, of course.” She stepped aside.
The moment he stepped into her entryway, her whole apartment seemed smaller.
“These are for you,” he said. He offered her a bouquet of flowers…pink roses and baby’s breath.
“Thank you.” She realized her hand was shaking as she took them from him. “I’ll go put them in water.”
She didn’t know why he was here and was afraid to hope it was because he wanted her back. Maybe he just wanted to make sure she was okay.
In the kitchen, she placed the flowers on the counter, then opened a cupboard and reached for a vase on the top shelf, but Erik grabbed it and put it on the counter for her.
She turned around slowly and found herself staring at his square chin. Heat rippled through her being this close to him. She tipped her head up and his deep blue gaze caught on hers.
“Aren’t you going to ask me why I’m here?”
“I…” She turned around and tugged the paper from around the flowers. “I need to get these in water before they die.”
She filled the vase, then cut the stems and placed them in the water.
“Would you like a beer?” she asked, heading for the fridge.
But he stepped in front of her.
“The flowers are safe now. Let’s talk.”
He took her hand and led her from the room. The feel of his fingers around hers sent tingles dancing through her. She didn’t want to think about the time they’d spent together. The intimate, erotic things they’d done together.
“If you came to see how I am, I’m fine.” She sat down on the couch, practically perched on the edge.
Instead of sitting in the chair across from her, he sat beside her and took her hand.
“I’m glad. But the truth is, I haven’t been fine. In fact…” His gaze locked on hers. “I’ve been miserable without you.”
Her heart beat faster. “You have?”
He nodded. “I promised myself I wouldn’t fall in love with you, but…” He shrugged. “I failed miserably at keeping that promise.”
She was in a daze, not really comprehending what he was saying.
“I don’t understand.”
He slid his arm around her and drew her close. “Kalie, I’m telling you that I’m in love with you. I know I doubted your love, but… every relationship is a risk and I think we just need to spend more time together. To see where this might go.”
“That’s all I’ve wanted all along.”
He laughed. “Yes, I know.” He took her hand in his. “But we were both guessing back then. Now that we know each other a little better, it’s clear to me that we have a foundation to build on.”
“So we can start seeing each other?”
“Hell, you can move in with me. I want you to. I know that might feel rushed, but you can keep your apartment—”
“I don’t need to. I know what I feel for you is real.” She stroked his cheek, joy surging through her. “And I know what you feel for me is real, too. I can see it in your eyes.”
His smile broadened and he pulled her into his arms. His lips found hers and she opened for him. His tongue swept inside in a sweet possession.
She melted against him, loving being with him like this again. She stroked her fingers through his hair, the strands silky against her skin. He pulled her onto his lap and deepened the kiss.
She turned and straddled his knees, cupping his face. Then she drew her lips away and smiled
“I love you, Erik.”
He stroked her hair back from her face. “And I love you, Kalie.”
Her smile broadened so wide she thought her face might break.
A desperate need flooded through her. To feel his intimat
e touch. To be one with him physically.
She unbuttoned her blouse and let it slide to the floor. His fingertips played along her back, then the hooks of her bra released. She tossed it aside, loving the look of awe on his face as he gazed at her naked breasts. She took one of his hands and pressed it to her.
“I’ve missed you. And I’ve definitely missed this.” He squeezed her mound gently, then toyed with the nipple. It blossomed to a hard bud.
“What do you want me to do, Sir?” she asked as she unzipped his pants, then reached inside to find his hard shaft.
“You’re on the right track.”
She giggled, then drew out his big cock, already at full height. She stroked it. Then she pushed herself on her knees and pulled aside her panties. His hot, intense gaze was locked with hers as she pushed his hot cockhead against her opening. She was already slick with need.
Slowly, she lowered herself onto him. The feel of his steel-hard column pushing inside her made her breath catch. Down and down she went. Swallowing him inside her.
“Fuck, baby.” His hands curled around her waist.
“I’ve spent every night dreaming of you.” She smiled. “Wanting you. Like this.”
He was all the way inside her now. She pivoted her hips, rocking him inside her.
“Oh, fuck, that feels so good.”
* * *
Erik couldn’t believe he’d walked away from this woman. Being wrapping in her hot, velvety channel was as close to heaven as he could imagine. She ran her hands down his chest, the fabric of his shirt a thin barrier between them.
She rocked her hips again and he groaned.
His cock was so hard… needing her so bad… if she did that again…
He cupped her breasts, then dipped his head to capture one sweet nipple. Her head dropped back as she moaned. He suckled, drawing the hard bud deep into his mouth, then he swirled his tongue over it. Again and again until she whimpered.
He released it and kissed along her neck, then nuzzled her collar bone. Goose bumps danced across her flesh.
Then he took her mouth, pulsing his tongue inside her.
She began to rock her hips again, her breaths short and erratic.
“You’re close, baby?” he murmured against her ear.
