by Maggie Ryan
Every thrust, every withdrawal, every tug on my hair had the spring tightening inside me. My mind tried to process what was happening. I no longer cared that others might hear, was no longer concerned that many would judge us for the perversity of the act. All I knew was that somehow, the man who’d spanked me, whipped me, invaded my darkest channel, was driving me toward the cliff’s edge.
“Please… I-I need to come,” I begged, every nerve in my body firing, tingling, threatening to explode.
“Not yet,” Deo said, causing me to give a sharp cry as he drove the plug deep, leaving it buried as he gripped my hips, pulling me back onto his shaft. It was too much and yet… it wasn’t as my body accepted him, opening, balancing precariously on the razor edge between pain and pleasure that had my thoughts clouding as sensation overwhelmed me.
I can’t say how long he made me wait. All I know was that several swats were delivered to my tender cheeks to back me away from the precipice as I begged almost incoherently for permission to release. He pounded into me, his fingers driving the plug in and out of my ass in sync with the pistoning of his cock in my sex until with a final firm tug on my hair, he roared, “Come now!” and my body erupted. My scream rent the room, my limbs flailing, my muscles contracting almost violently as my pussy convulsed around his cock. My cream mingled with his as his cock jerked, erupting again and again to fill me until he finally stilled, remaining buried within me.
All I could do was mewl, whimper, and tremble as his weight descended to press me into the bed, his tug on my hair turning my head so that his mouth could take mine. The kiss was as demanding as his penetration had been, his tongue invading my mouth to sweep inside. By the time he pulled back, we were both breathless.
“Every inch… is mine,” he whispered before pulling from me. The withdrawal of the plug from my ass caused me to gasp again at the sharp bite of pain, my face heating as he scooped me up. Carrying me like a baby, he crossed the room. Seated in his spanking chair, he cradled me in his lap, drawing another moan as my ass took my weight.
He adjusted me in his arms, turning me toward him, his words soothing me, his hand stroking my hair. “Shh. I will do whatever I must to protect you. Even if it hurts.” Pulling away, Deo looked as if he was trying to read my expression. “There is pleasure in the pain for you though, isn’t there?”
Grasping his crisp shirt in my fists, I buried my face in his chest. I couldn’t speak, answering my husband with a nod of my head.
He chuckled. “You are a special woman. You only truly know you are mine when I control you, when I punish you, is that right?”
I gave another silent nod.
“You have wanted this for a long time, haven’t you? A loving keeper to spank you when you are disobedient? To demand a penance is paid? To treat you like his little princess when you are good? To spoil you?”
Wrapping my arms around Deo’s neck, I whispered, “Yes.” The desires I had longed to expose for our entire marriage were finally confirmed by a single word crossing my lips.
“You fought me all of this time. You couldn’t tell me what you wanted. You thought you would no longer be a strong woman if you gave in to your softer desires.”
It was true, but I hadn’t known it until that moment when Deo put it into words. The fights, the screaming, they were all me showing my frustration. Not knowing how to tell Deo that I wanted to release the control I had always clung to. Would I have been able to if I’d known that within him, was this man? The man who took me in hand, made me feel as if I would burst apart with a combination of pain and pleasure? A man I now knew was the one I needed, whom I craved, who made me complete. The one who cherished me, protected me—his to love, spoil, and, yes, to spank.
“Then I will be your loving husband, and you will be my baby girl.”
Hearing the words seemed so natural. So ‘us’. Who we were meant to be. “Thank you, Deo,” I whispered.
“It will be my pleasure,” he answered, his voice choked with emotion.
I had only seen tears in his eyes once, on our wedding day. Looking up from my nest, I saw the evidence of a glistening sheen in my husband’s eyes.
Chapter Eight
Cassandra
Perched up in the window seat of the turret, I watched as the Escalade returned. It pulled up the rocky drive, under the arcading, parking in the same place it had when I’d first come to the castle. I had barely slept the night before, my body tender and sated at the same time, my mind going a mile a minute as I tried to assimilate all that had happened in the span of just a few days, and as soon as the first rays of sun peered into my window, I had sprung from my bed. This was the morning Cynthia would come, and Deo would reveal his secrets.
I could just make out my friend’s face through the dark glass. Cynthia’s jaw could not possibly hang open further than it did now as her wide eyes took in Ravensloft. I would have laughed had I not felt so guilty about the reason for her presence.
Moving as lithe as a panther, Baal was out of his side of the Escalade and holding Cy’s door open in a flash. The grin that spread on his face told me that he had not minded escorting my friend through the winding roads of the New York mountains.
Teetering on velvet leopard-skin pumps, Cynthia emerged from the car, and to Baal’s obvious pleasure, grabbed onto his strong arm. She wore a skin-tight purple satin dress that was better suited for a club, but looked amazing on her. Fluffing her already puffy curls, Cynthia puckered her freshly painted lips, looked right at me, and blew a kiss. Caught. I loved that my best friend knew I would be watching for her arrival.
After giving a quick wave, I hurried down from my perch in the window seat, rushing down the hall.
Draco caught me in his arms at the top of the stairs. He had come from nowhere. I hadn’t even seen his movement out of the corner of my eye.
“Slow down, Cassandra,” he said, his arms holding me firmly in place. His tone was stern, but his eyes warm.
With my relationship with Deo rapidly changing, and my knowledge of Draco’s witnessing my discipline, even if only through the sounds that had escaped the room, I had been prepared to never be able to look this man in the eyes again. Relieved to discover I was wrong, I said, “Yes, sir.”
He released me, a smile tugging on his lips when he added, “It’s nice to see that you did survive intact. It would be a shame to have you hurt yourself now. No running on the stairs.”
A bit surprised that he remembered my concern, yet pleased he had, I rolled my eyes. “Just barely.”
Draco cocked one eyebrow. He didn’t have to speak for me to hear him loud and clear. ‘If you don’t want a hot ass, then obey.’ Stealing Cynthia’s moves, I blew him a kiss, and when his lips twitched, I grinned and retreated down the stairs…willing my feet to walk, not run. There was no need to add Draco to the list of men who wanted to take me over their knee for disobeying them. That thought almost drew me to an abrupt stop, but the door opened just as I reached the final stair.
Baal and Cynthia stepped over the threshold, arm in arm, matching wide grins on their faces. Cynthia dropped his arm at the sight of me, rushing over and grabbing me into a huge hug.
“Oh, my God, Cass, I was so worried about you!” Pushing my hair back with her hands, Cynthia investigated my face. Her concerned eyes looked over every inch of me as if inspecting for damage.
“I’m okay, I promise.” I took Cynthia’s hands in mine.
Raising a suspicious brow at me, Cynthia asked, “What is going on here?”
“I’m not entirely sure, myself,” I whispered. Squeezing her hands, I said, “I’m sorry, Cynthia, I didn’t mean to drag you into this.”
“Drag me? I’m just mad you didn’t send this demi-god to collect me sooner,” she whispered back, releasing my hands and gesturing at Baal as he left the room.
The smile on his face went from ear to ear.
Laughing, we both dabbed at tears that were forming in our eyes. “Seriously though,” Cy said. “Cass
, you know I’d do anything for you. It was killing me knowing something was wrong and not being able to be there for you.”
“I’m so glad you’re here, now.” I looked to the top of the stairs where Draco stood watching us from above, arms crossed, a satisfied look on his face. I mouthed the words, “Thank you,” to him.
Cynthia looked up to see who had my attention. Taking in Draco, she gave a low whistle. “Good Lord, there are more of them? Do they all look this good? Though I am partial to my chauffeur, with those jade green eyes and long hair,” Cy said dreamily.
Giving me a wink, Draco turned, disappearing back down the dark hall.
“That,” I said, pointing at the recently vacated stairs, “was Draco. Then there’s Deo.” I noted the displeasure in Cy’s face at the mention of my husband’s name. “Oh, and Alekos. He’s been by the office before. I believe you called him a ‘beefcake’ last time. And Xander is on the way. I’ve never met him. They call him the baby.”
“A young one? That might end up making me a cougar, if he looks anything like the others,” Cynthia said with a laugh.
“I haven’t seen him yet, but I’m sure he won’t disappoint. And I believe you’ve already had the pleasure of meeting Balthazar, the one with the jade green eyes as you said.”
“Yes, name meaning ‘protect the king’, and make a lady swoon from the way a pair of pants hangs from that frame,” Cynthia purred. “Speaking of pants—what on Earth are you wearing?”
Embarrassed, I looked down at my flowery ensemble and ballet flats. “Deo picked it,” I mumbled.
Cynthia considered me for another moment. “The look suits you,” she said in wonderment.
“Doesn’t it, though,” Alekos said, entering from the opposite end of the room.
“Deo’s younger brother, Alekos,” I said, gesturing toward him in way of introduction.
“The name means ‘defending mankind.’ At your service.” Alekos halted his approach, taking a deep bow.
Clutching my arm, Cy whispered to me, “How on Earth did he hear you? He came out of nowhere.”
Alekos made his way across the hall to join us.
Her momentary spooking was quickly over, and her mouth stretched in a wide grin to match Alekos’ as he gave Cynthia a wink before grasping her hand and giving it a kiss.
“This one’s charming.” Cy licked her lips. “Pleasure to meet you, defender of man,” Cynthia said. Looking around her and taking in the main hall of the castle, she followed it up with, “You all are living a positively fairy tale life up here. I had absolutely no idea there were castles in New York.”
“The castle has been in our family for quite a few decades now,” Alekos said.
“Cass never told me she married royalty,” Cy joked.
“I didn’t know. As a matter of fact, in this case, you know about as much as I do,” I said.
Hearing the worried tone in my voice, Cynthia put her arm around me and gave me a reassuring squeeze. “It’s going to be okay, Cass.”
Alekos smiled. “The veil will soon be lifted. Get ready. Although there is really no way to prepare oneself for the truth. A couple of lawyers ought to know that better than anyone. Hey, ladies, what’s the difference between a good lawyer and a bad lawyer?” Alekos joked.
“A bad lawyer can let a case drag out for several years. A good lawyer can make it last even longer,” Cy quickly answered.
“Hey, Alekos, what’s the only difference between a female lawyer and a pit bull?” I asked.
“Beats me,” he answered, already chuckling at the coming punchline.
“Lipstick!” Cy and I said together, laughing. I linked arms with Cy as we followed Alekos into the dining room. Having Cynthia by my side calmed my nerves. We had tackled some seriously tough cases together. And I knew that we would get through this, too.
Cy gave another low whistle as she entered the dining room. Her eyes widened as she took in the tapestries and gold fireplace.
Looking completely at home in his elegant surroundings, Deo stepped forward to greet her. “Cynthia. So good to see you, though I wish it were under better circumstances,” he said, throwing a wary look in my direction.
“Deo.” Cynthia accepted his kissing of her cheek. As he moved to withdraw, Cynthia pulled him in toward her and whispered something into his ear.
I couldn’t hear a thing, but a smile came to Deo’s face.
“Well said, Cynthia, but you’d better ask Cass’ opinion on the matter, first,” Deo answered.
Giving me a curious look, I had the feeling Cynthia blamed Deo for this little fairy tale romp, and as much as she was enjoying it so far, I could tell she was going to watch him like a hawk.
Deo gave a nod, and his brother joined him, the two making their way from the room, leaving Cynthia and me alone.
“What did you say to him?” I hissed.
“I said if he hurt you, I’d kill him.” Cy narrowed her eyes at me. “You heard his reply.” She eyed me suspiciously. “Have you been over his knee again?”
The heat began in my chest, and I could feel it rushing, like a wave, up my neck and through my cheeks.
Cynthia read the flush covering my face clearly. “Cass, you naughty girl.” Staring at me hard before giving a quick glance to where Deo had disappeared, she turned back to me, her eyes widening. “You really do love it, don’t you?”
“I plead the fifth,” I murmured. “Just try not to get me into too much trouble. All right?” I asked. My eyes cut to the men as they returned to the room. Deo was flanked by Balthazar and Draco. Alekos walked in, his arm hanging casually over the shoulders of a blue-eyed stranger whom I assumed to be Xander.
“Ladies,” Deo said, “may I introduce you to Xander.”
Xander walked over to where Cynthia and I stood. His light brown hair was long and tousled, hanging over his eyes, giving him a boyish appearance. Though younger and smaller than his fellow Greeks, from the way his tight muscle tee stretched across his chest, the young man appeared as rock hard as the other men. I noticed he wore the same style belt around his waist and the chain bracelet encircled his wrist. His light eyes settled on me.
“Hello,” Xander said softly. “Cassandra, it’s an honor to finally meet Deo’s wife.”
“Pleasure to meet you, Xander,” I replied. “This is my friend, Cynthia.”
Cynthia extended her hand to Xander. “Lovely to meet you, Xander. And what does your name mean?” she asked, shaking his hand.
“Protector,” he answered humbly.
I liked him already.
“Okay then,” Cynthia said. “Good to know.”
Deo drew my chair out and I took a seat as Xander pulled the one next to me from the table. Cynthia shot me a smile, her eyes showing her amusement and approval of the display of manners as she thanked Xander after he pushed her chair in and then sat beside her.
The men took their seats around the table. Deo at the head of the table, Draco sitting across from me as he had last night, Alekos taking a seat beside him.
Baal sat on the other side of Alekos, tucking his long hair behind his ears. His green eyes rested on Cynthia as he sat down, sending her a warm smile.
When everyone was settled, Cynthia was the first to speak. “So, let me make sure I have this right,” she said. “Baal filled me in a little on the way.”
At Cynthia’s words, Deo raised a brow, saying, “Did he?”
Cynthia quickly reassured him, “Relax. Just the names, Deo. Everything else in this little adventure is still a mystery.” Turning next to her and flashing a smile at Xander, Cynthia said, “We have Xander, protector, but of what I’m not quite sure.” Xander gave a small nod. Moving on, Cynthia said, “Alekos, I’ve seen you around the office, but today is the first time I’ve had the pleasure of meeting the defender of mankind.”
“It must be your lucky day.” Alekos winked.
“Then Baal, of course, my personal escort to this strange little party, and protector of the king.” She t
urned to Deo. “Let me guess, Deo means ‘the king,’ right? That would round this little circle out nicely.”
“Not exactly,” Deo answered. “The meaning of my name is ‘godlike’, but yes, Baal is my protector, and what you may call my right-hand man. He has loyally served me for many years now.” Deo gave Baal a look of great respect and gratitude.
Baal raised his hand in a salute to Deo.
I looked over Baal’s lean physique. He sat, confident, calm, relaxed, yet somehow held an air of danger and power. How had I never met this man who meant so much to my husband? My first encounter with Deo’s right-hand man had been the stranger dragging me from my office, my possessions in his gray duffle bag.
I looked to my husband. Seated regally at the head of the table, the vision of Deo was striking. I was mystified by my memory of our last night in our home when I had thought my husband boring and mundane, and had threatened to leave. Days later, I felt as if I was in the presence of royalty: Deo, my husband, the king of this castle.
My thoughts and eyes strayed to the figure sitting directly across from me. If Baal was Deo’s protector, what did that make Draco to me?
Cynthia beat me to it. “Let me guess. Draco means dragon?” At his nod, she slid her eyes to me and then addressed him again. “I think it means more… perhaps, protecting dragon of Cassandra?” Cy suggested.
“Guardian… but, yes, protector as well,” Draco confirmed.
Cy nodded. “Pleasure to meet you by the way.”
“Pleasure’s all mine,” Draco answered, giving me a look that told me he approved of my choice in friends.
My own personal dragon of a guardian? Draco’s eyes locked onto mine, confirming my fleeting suspicions. “You’re really mine?” I asked.
“Yes.” The answer came from Deo, who was staring at Draco, the small muscle in his jaw twitching as he clenched his teeth.
Looking at my husband, I tried to read his expression. There seemed to be some anger there and something else I could not understand. Draco did not so much as flinch under Deo’s hard glare. There was a friction, a tension between the two that was almost visible like a thin white line of electricity between them.
