RequiredSurrender

by Riley Murphy

  “The candy store or the zoo. Then one night I imagined you taking me to the fair where you played a game of bean-bag toss and you won me a stuffed animal and for a long time that’s all I dreamed about until…”

  “Yes?”

  “Until you said no to me.”

  The leather crunched as he sat back. “I didn’t say no to you. I said no to Ethan, who said no to his wife. It was Colin, she said no to you.”

  “But I—”

  “You should have asked me directly. I don’t like a woman who hides.”

  Her cheeks burned and she whispered, “I wasn’t hiding and I didn’t make this decision without thinking it through first. Colin and I talked about my problem at length. She was the one who mention exposure therapy, and after I told her how I felt about you, she talked to Ethan about it. He told me you’d say no.”

  “So there wasn’t one Dom I tried to pair you with you would have considered?”

  “No.”

  Ted didn’t want to explore how great that “no” sounded to him. She said it with such conviction he couldn’t help the surge of male satisfaction that swept through him. And as he looked down at her bowed head and pink cheeks, that pleasure increased.

  He knew why she’d been having those kinds of dreams. On some subconscious level, she must have figured out that he was the type of man who could connect with her inner child. A child who had to grow up too fast because of one reckless bastard’s abuse.

  “What kind of stuffed animal?”

  “W-what?”

  “What kind of creature do I win for you in your dreams?”

  “A dragon. A rainbow-colored dragon that has big green eyes.”

  “Every time?”

  “Yes.”

  “Look at me.” When she did he came forward and rested his elbows across his spread knees and clasped his hands together. “I think my princess needs a dragon to slay the beasts that haunt her.”

  She didn’t say anything to that, she just bent and rested her forehead against the bridge of his hands. The ebony silk of her hair rippled like water over her shoulders, leaving the fine expanse of her back exposed to him. He let her hold her position this way for several moments. Content to feel this kind of connection with her until she shifted forward in an attempt to get closer to him.

  “No, Jo, back as you were and straighten.” He waited until she did as he told her, then he said, “I think I want to take you upstairs. Not to my room, we’ll go to one of the spare rooms on the second floor and see if we can ease some of your skittishness around me. But first, let’s talk about last night.”

  The flat of her palms rested on her thighs and he didn’t miss how she rubbed the perspiration off them.

  “Why weren’t you this nervous around me at the club?”

  “There were other people doing the same things and…”

  Hm. Falling in with a crowd was an important note to make. “And?”

  “I made a pact with myself before I went into the club to meet you that my modesty would be left at the door.”

  “Smart girl. That’s where it will always be left when you come to me. Into my home, my car, my clubs or my office. You understand what I’m saying?”

  “Yes.”

  The pulse at her throat picked up speed. He watched all the telltale signs of her body. The little panted-out breaths, the ever-so-slight tremble in her arms. She liked the idea of being commanded. “Let’s go upstairs and see if we can make you more comfortable around me.”

  He pulled her up with him, careful to keep some distance between them. Not necessarily for her benefit alone. He was feeling the heavy tension too. He couldn’t help but think what was going on behind those huge eyes. Her erratic breathing captivated him. Reminding him of a prisoner of war who knows they might fare far better on this side of the battle than the other, but they’re not so naïve as to think the struggle was completely over.

  “Up you go.” He had her ascend the stairs ahead, happy to hang back just far enough to enjoy the view. “First door on the right.”

  “I like this room.” She took in her surroundings better this time, he noticed, than the first time he showed her. Probably because this time it meant something to her. “It’s brighter than the other one and bigger I think.”

  Ted examined the three long rectangular windows that ran floor to ceiling on the far wall and nodded. “It is.” He shut the door and made sure to slide the lock so it noisily clicked into place.

  As anticipated she spun around.

  “Eyes down, sexy.”

  She looked so adorable complying, he grinned. “Now what can I do to help you relax?”

  He walked around her. Eyeing her and no doubt increasing the edginess inside of her.

  “Fuck me.”

  “Hm. Let’s address the first problem I have with this. It’s your choice of words. They’re harsh and I’ve already told you my women do not swear.” He continued circling.

  “I want you to, ah, screw me?”

  He stopped and tilted his head. Ignoring her meant-to-be-funny uncertainty, he concentrated on the fact that underneath it, she was serious. “Just like that? You have a gift to give and you’d give it to me,” he snapped his fingers, “right now.”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” He braced his hands on her shoulders and waited until she settled down. “Why me?”

  “You winked at me.”

  This was the second time she’d said that. “It must have been some wink.”

  “It was.”

  He actually felt her shiver at her own admission. “I winked at you because you called me an arrogant bastard.”

  She nodded.

  “What was so special about the gesture?”

  “It made me hot and tingly. It was… You were the first guy to make me feel like a woman. Special. I want you to be my first everything. I want—”

  He didn’t let her finish. He spun her around and hauled her up. “Don’t say it.”

  “You to be my first love.”

  He crushed her in his arms and let out a breath. “I told you not to say it.”

  “I had to.”

  He held her close. “Why?”

  “You’re my dragon, I know you are. I just know it.”

  This was dangerous territory for him, because for the first time in nearly five years his hand was easing off that emergency brake. Worse, his foot wanted to pound the gas. He didn’t know her well enough to totally move forward, but he knew her too well that he couldn’t hold back.

  “I want you on your knees, princess. Let’s put you through some paces and see how we both fare.”

  She sank so beautifully he almost hoisted her back up. But he couldn’t do that. He was the one with the knowledge and experience. He needed to put his emotions aside and set up some perimeters for them.

  “Back straight. We’re going to have to get you some hair ties for this ebony silk. It’s beautiful but distracting. Eyes down, that’s right,” he said as he circled her. “Now bring your arms up behind your head. Very good. Breasts out. God, I love this.” He reached down and traced a finger over the henna design on one breast. “I want you to keep these designs dark, like they are now, understood? I like the illusion of being unable to tell where that pretty nipple stops and the ink starts.”

  She nodded and he reached under her chin and tilted it up. “Say it, I would hear the words.”

  “I promise to keep the design dark the way you like it.”

  She was doing such an elegant job of positioning he crouched down right in front of her. “Tell me what you’re thinking right now.”

  “I’m…I would do anything you asked me to do.”

  “Very good,” he trailed a finger across her breast until he reached her nipple, then he pinched the hardened bud between his forefinger and thumb and rolled. “Close your eyes.” Instantly she did and he smiled. “This pleases me. Now I’m going to take your panties down. Not all the way, just enough so I can look at you. Don’t m
ove.”

  He took his time slipping her tiny panties down her hips and exposing that smooth-as-glass mound. Slowly, he pulled the lace lower and lower still until it was positioned halfway between her sweeter-than-fuck flared hips and bent knees.

  He took a moment to study her and then leaned forward and pressed the side of his jaw into hers. “Damn, I love the spread. Smooth and fragrant. Beautiful.” He straightened. “Now bring your arms down. Like that. Palms behind you. Grasp your ass cheeks. Perfect. Keep your eyes closed.”

  He wanted her off balance and unsure. Unable to gauge where his touch was going to land when it finally did. Gaining a fortifying breath, he reached out and meant to start at her thigh, but his hand took a detour and suddenly he was cupping the hottest, most drenched pussy he’d felt in a long, long time.

  Slipping eager fingers through her steam, he whispered, “Oh princess, what are you trying to do to me?”

  She shouldn’t have opened her eyes, because he’d told her to keep them closed. She shouldn’t have spoken because she hadn’t been directed to speak and yet she stared right up at him and in a husky voice that sent lust rocketing through him, she said, “It’s my gift to give and I want to give it to you.”

  The fact that the gift she was talking about was creaming his hand at the moment was not far from his every primal thought. Screw primal, carnal was more like it. “Come closer on your knees and put your arms around me.”

  And when she did, all he could smell were apples. Fresh, crisp and delicious apples. “Spread your knees wider,” he ordered, angling his hand between her legs for a better feel. “That’s right.”

  She was breathing hard. Shaking. Wanting more than his hand, he knew.

  He wasn’t going to give it to her, but he wanted to.

  “Mmm…” He kissed her ear, her cheek and rubbed the side of his face against hers as he worked his magic on her pussy. “You’re so wet. So, so wet. I’ll have to get you off at least twice before we can go over your schedule.”

  She caught his earlobe with her teeth for a pull, and then released. “Screw me.”

  “Jo.” He didn’t want to be swayed.

  “Please,” she groaned and worse she began pivoting her hips into his hand in a slow and steady motion. Seductive. And he couldn’t help recalling an image of her. As she looked with the mask and black leather panties spread and on display.

  “Beg me.” Was he really going to do this? No handbrake, no problem.

  Instead of the cries and panting he expected, she took hold of the sides of his face and stared him in the eyes. “You’re the one.”

  Damn. She held his face and wouldn’t let him go.

  “Please don’t turn away. Please don’t leave me. I—”

  “You’re sure about this?”

  She couldn’t even answer she was shaking so bad. He didn’t think, nor did he hesitate when he stood and scooped her up. Fuck the schedule. This kind of need couldn’t wait. He carried her to the bed ready to accept what she was generously offering.

  Chapter Seven

  Jo expected things to be fast and furious after he quickly stripped off her panties and laid her on the bed. She knew if she had it her way they’d be frantic by now, but Ted had other ideas. Clearly he wasn’t going to be swayed by her eagerness.

  “Lie back down.”

  She did as he ordered even though she didn’t want to. She wanted to get up on her knees and watch him undress.

  “Arms over your head, wrists crossed and palms open the way they were during the card game the last night.”

  With the mention of that a bevy of exciting images materialized to make her even hotter for him. There was no way to hold back her shiver.

  “What’s the matter, princess?” He took off his shirt and shook the hair out of his eyes. “Are you aching?”

  The sight of his broad shoulders, wickedly cut abs and slim hips made her hiss in a breath. Good thing too, because when he undid the zipper of his pants and smiled at her, she forgot to breathe.

  “I’ll stop the ache.”

  His thick muscles shifted and rolled as he walked toward her. The tightening weave pattern was mesmerizing and when he got to the side of the bed, stopping to push off his jeans, she averted her eyes until he came down beside her. With both of them totally naked her nerves jangled. He was big, huge everywhere. Tight skinned and tanned.

  He lay on his side with his elbow bent and his head rested in his palm. “You’re shaking.”

  “I want you.”

  “I want you too.” He trailed his hand with knuckles curled against the column of her throat, collarbone and chest. Taking his time, circling one breast and then the other, before he ventured lower.

  By the time he got to her navel she closed her eyes and fought the urge she had to cover herself.

  “You’re doing so well. Spread your legs. That’s right. A little more. Very good.”

  His hand dipped between her thighs and she quivered.

  “This is the wettest pussy.” He circled around her clit. Once, twice and then he held that delicate flesh between his fingers and rolled. “Relax and breathe.”

  She would have tried to do as he said, but he shifted. Her eyes snapped open and she panicked. “W-where are you going?”

  “Not far. Just far enough to get a better look.”

  She was mortified. Embarrassed. Hot and ashamed of herself, when he moved down in the bed and bent closer to study her center. Watching how her body reacted to his touch. Adjusting not only the pressure but the direction of his movements against her engorged flesh until he found the spot.

  “Ted.” This came out as a half sigh, half moan and the second he heard it, he stilled.

  “No talking. No moving. Let me see what makes you tick without any distractions. Close your eyes and concentrate on feeling. That’s right.”

  Every nerve ending in her body crackled with electrifying tingles as he took his time exploring this one small part of her. He was careful and thorough. So thorough she had to fight the need buck and flex into his hand.

  “Your little pussy is beautiful. Responsive,” he slid his fingers over her clit and pressed, “and ready to be used. I love how your muscles down here contract when I—”

  She quivered the instant he pinched her clit and jiggled. The action sent shock waves jetting through her as liquid heat spilled out of her.

  “Keep still.”

  She tried. Oh God, she tried to stop the tremors, but they kept building inside her. Tightening. Coiling. Until she feared she’d snap.

  “I love this.”

  She arched her back, she couldn’t help it. He was skating his fingers over her hot wet flesh and when she heard the heady sounds of excess moisture that was drawn out of her from his manipulations, she automatically responded to it. Dropping back against the duvet, she eased her knees into the mattress and let herself go. All of her, everything was completely and utterly exposed to him.

  “Good girl. Good girls get a present.”

  She barely heard his words before heat consumed her, riding in steady waves from her kneecaps to her clit.

  “Breathe through it. You’re going to have to be careful for me, princess. I don’t want you to come. Not yet, but you’re really going to want to when I—”

  His tongue skied across her clit in one solid pass and the order to remain silent was lost. “Ted.”

  “Shhh.”

  Opening his mouth, his lips closed over that bundle of nerves and he sucked. So gently, so expertly she nearly passed out. Her legs shook and her insides turned to boiling jelly. She had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. White-hot desire whipped through her so fast she gasped for breath. The pleasure-pain built to a dizzy crescendo within her. Pushing the boundaries of her endurance until she feared she was going to let go. She was going to lose control. She was going to let her body do what it wanted to do. Oh God, she was losing it. The thrill was thrumming harder. Faster. The rush peaking…

  “No,” he p
ulled back and looked at her, “not yet. You have to be patient.”

  And just like that she was left trembling, panting and aching in unfulfilled need.

  “Rest a minute. No, don’t move your legs. I like you spread like this.”

  It was quiet. Still. Intimate until a moment later when he whispered, “Deep breath and now…”

  “Oh God.” He slipped a finger into her and found that spot. The one that pushed all her erogenous buttons at once. The instantaneous rush of desire hit her hard. “Please…”

  “Shhh.”

  He caressed her G-spot and she couldn’t speak if she wanted to. Her head tossed from side to side. Her breath rasped out. Her heart pounded and her pulse picked up speed. He rubbed and rubbed some more, and the need came back full force. There was no room to breathe through it this time. Her hips lifted off the mattress, seeking more of the luscious ache. She was going to—

  “Not yet.” He withdrew from her. “Almost, but not quite.”

  She had the shakes so bad she was sure the bed trembled beneath them. Licking her lips, she said, “You’re…” She stopped because her voice was low, husky, like she had laryngitis. Clearing her throat, she tried again. “You’re killing me.”

  “Look at me.”

  When her gaze met his, she gained comfort. The light in his eyes burned to a sizzling smolder. The knowledge that she wasn’t the only one being pushed to the limits here had her melting without a touch.

  “I want you to be patient.” The deep timbre of his voice stole through her, even while his eyes pinned her under their heady weight. And when he braced a palm on her thigh and wrapped his hand tightly around her limb as if he were staking claim, she shivered.

  “Patient because I want your body to learn right from this first encounter that I control it. I want more from you than the act of simply giving in to your needs. I want you to respond better to my desires than your own. It takes time to train the subconscious, but once a desired behavior is learned, it can’t be unlearned. That’s what I’m after. I want you conditioned to my needs, not your own.”

  Clearly he’d made some headway already, because the moment he applied pressure on her leg, her whole body completely eased for him, as if she had no choice in the matter.