by Avery Gale
Landon had been half a heartbeat from pulling her from the barstool and paddling her ass for walking away from him when something stopped him. Pausing, he listened as she chastised herself and felt his heart clench at the sadness he heard in her voice, but her last comment was like a kick to the gut. He’d known his rejection had hurt her, but he hadn’t realized the depth of the pain he’d caused. And hearing the resignation in her voice when she’d bemoaned being under her family’s control again snapped something in him.
Sliding onto the stool next to her, he smiled and arched a brow at her half-finished drink. She shrugged. “I just needed a minute. It’s been a trying couple of weeks.”
He leaned his head back and laughed. “Princess, I have a feeling your whole life has been trying. Don’t you think it’s time you gave yourself a break?” When her eyes went wide in surprise, Landon knew for sure how badly he’d failed as her Dom. He’d always felt part of a sexual Dominant’s role was empowering the submissive he was topping. It took a lot of strength to let go. Ceding power to someone else required a level of trust most people only dreamed of attaining.
“You’ve learned more in two weeks than many subs learn during their entire six-month training at the club.” Her cheeks flushed at the compliment, and his words had been sincere. She’d done a remarkable job and under the worst possible circumstances. Landon suddenly realized how much he’d enjoyed her company. He liked spending time with her. She was smart, and her razor-sharp wit kept him on his toes. But most of all, he respected her.
“Come on, Princess. Let’s get you out of here. I want you well-rested and well-fed before we go to the club later. And I want you out of here before tequila kicks in. There’s no need to add indecent exposure paperwork to the mountain of bureaucratic bull shit Parker is already facing.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Savannah could tell something was on Landon’s mind before they made the short drive up to the club. But when she asked the third time what was wrong, he’d given her a warning look that caused her to cut the inquiry off mid-sentence. Stepping into the large reception area, she grinned at Tank and asked Landon if she could speak to him for a moment. He appeared puzzled but nodded his approval. Turning her attention back to the man who’d been unfailingly polite despite the mess he’d been pushed into, Savannah smiled. “Tank, I wanted to apologize for this afternoon. I hope you didn’t get into any trouble.”
The large man looked completely shocked for a few seconds, but then his entire expression warmed. “Miss Savannah, I appreciate your concern, but my bosses knew keeping their sweet mama and wife out of trouble was more than one man could be expected to handle. I was very grateful for your help. You and Miss Jen took care of those women before I could get there, and that was a huge help—Lilly and Tobi are more like family than…well, they’re mighty special.” Her heart almost burst to hear the love in his voice when he was speaking about Lilly and Tobi. What would it be like to have friendships that strong?
Landon nodded to Tank and ushered Savannah through the door. He wasn’t sure what had gone through her mind when Tank spoke so fondly about the West women. But the look of sadness and longing made him want to take her right back down to the cottage and make love to her until she forgot every moment of loneliness her family had caused her. Pulling himself back from the temptation, he moved her to the side and into his arms. He was sure she was worried about doing a scene in a different club, and he’d only added to her anxiety by behaving like an ass for the past hour. And despite all that, she’d still managed to make a point to apologize to Tank. The woman was a class act.
Pulling back, he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Just when I think I can’t be more impressed with you…you shock me by setting the bar even higher, Princess.” He could see the sheen of unshed tears, and he hated realizing he’d missed so many chances to tell her how impressed he’d been with her dedication. She’d gone all-in with her training; he didn’t know of another agent who could have done it better.
“Thank you. Your kind words mean more than you know. I may learn more from critiques, but I’m motivated by positive reinforcement.”
For a second, he thought she was going to try to retract the words, but she took a deep breath and stayed the course. This time when he pulled her close it was to seal his lips over hers. He’d planned to hold the passion in check until their scene, but the minute his lips touched hers, it was spontaneous combustion. Feeling her groan vibrate all the way up her chest threw gas on the fire, turning it into an inferno. Pushing his hands through her hair, he gripped the silken strands, tilting her head so he could deepen the kiss. His tongue explored every inch of her mouth, and she gave as good as she got.
By the time Landon broke off the kiss, he’d pushed her up against the brick wall behind her, and she was wrapped around him like a vine. She was pulling in deep breaths, and he loved seeing the glazed look of desire in her blue-green eyes.
“Wowser. That was one heck of a kiss. One Dom who walked by had to wipe the steam from his glasses.” Laughter filled Tobi’s voice, and Landon would have laughed with her if he hadn’t been trying to remember why he wasn’t hauling ass back to the cottage.
“Kitten, how many times are we going to have to punish you for speaking without permission in the club?” Kyle’s tone was all business, but his eyes softened as he looked down on his scantily dressed sub. The dress Tobi was almost wearing was cut so low a deep breath would probably expose her breasts. And the open lace ended so high anyone sitting down would have a great view of her pussy as she walked by. If Kyle was anything like Landon, she’d also be flashing a sparkly butt plug…because, according to her Master, there was no such thing as too much bling in a kink club.
“Is that a trick question, Sir? Because it sounds a lot like one.” Kyle’s answering growl didn’t seem to deter his wife in the least.
“Sweetness, you are pushing your luck after the fiasco you were involved in this afternoon.” Landon noted the tension in Kent’s voice and wondered what else Tobi had done to push her Masters’ buttons.
“You’re only mad at me because you can’t spank me for what your mom did and you can’t spank her, either.” While Landon agreed with what Tobi had just said, he was gaining a new appreciation for Kent’s and Kyle’s frustration.
“I can tell by the expression on Master Landon’s face he understands exactly how you earned your reputation as a brat, Kitten.” Landon would have laughed at the astonished look on Tobi’s face if it hadn’t been for the fact she was setting a terrible example for Savannah. He didn’t respond, but gave her a look he was certain she’d understood. As the three of them walked away, he heard Kent’s promise she’d be spending time over both their knees before the night was over, but after seeing her in action, Landon wonder how much of a deterrent those paddlings were going to be.
It was time to get the evening back on track, and he wanted to reward Savannah for not speaking during the exchange they’d witnessed with the Wests. Moving her a couple of feet from the wall, he turned her so she was facing the red brick surface. “Hands on the wall, pet. Now spread your legs as far as you can.” When she did as he’d instructed, he slid his hand beneath the short, pleated skirt she was wearing and groaned against her ear. His words were for her only, and he knew it would heighten her pleasure. “You are already dripping wet, Princess. I love knowing your body has prepared itself for me.”
Her breathing had accelerated, and he could see her pulse pounding staccato at the base of her throat. She looked sinfully wanton with her back arched perfectly. Landon shifted so she was shielded from the view of all but a very few. This was for the two of them, an intimate moment between a Dom and his submissive that was quickly becoming a spontaneous moment of passion between a man and the woman he was falling in love with.
“Pushing through your slick folds and imagining their color changing from pink to deep scarlet makes my cock ache to replace my fingers. The flutter of your vaginal walls as they ripple
around me—so fucking hot I’m afraid I might burst into flames.” A surge of cream coated his fingers, and he suspected she was dripping onto the floor. Pausing, he enjoyed the way her vaginal muscles clutched him in an effort to pull him deeper. Fucking perfect. “Do you want to come, sweetheart?” If she noticed the shift in pet names, she didn’t react, but the significance wasn’t lost on him.
“Yes, Sir. Oh, God, please don’t let me fall.” Her words surprised him. As lost as she was in the tempest of lust, she still worried about making a scene. How programmed was her mind to adhere to the social constraints her family? He wanted to slash the tethers that kept her from fully letting go.
“Never, baby. I’ll always catch you. Come for me.” Her body reacted before he’d finished speaking, long before he knew her sharp mind processed the command. The arm he’d banded around her waist tightened when her knees gave out. God, it was a rush to know he’d given her so much pleasure she’d folded into his arms. She’d barely made a sound, the gasps and moans so soft they’d been for his ears only.
Ordinarily, he liked to give subs multiple orgasms during each encounter at a club, but this was going to be a one-shot deal. The scene he’d planned for tonight wasn’t a big production, but he still didn’t want her body completely sated in advance. There was a lot of truth in the old adage that advised ‘always leave them wanting more.’
The troll she’d always sworn lived under the small bridge on her parents’ estate had finally zapped her. Savannah felt like a limp, well-used rag doll. That damned troll was the only possible explanation. Savannah sagged over Landon’s forearm barely registering his soft mutterings of praise as he lifted her into his arms. “We’ll get you some water, and you’ll be back on your feet before you know it, pet.”
Yes, indeed. Water…the miracle antidote for troll curses.
Closing her eyes, Savannah let the gentle swaying of being carried calm her jangled nerves. The last time she’d been carried, her brother had been home from grad-school and found her asleep on the back patio. She’d been sent home from boarding school when she contracted mono. Warm sunshine had beckoned, but she’d barely made her way outside before collapsing onto one of the loungers. She’d known her brother was livid, but it wasn’t until later she realized he’d been angry with their parents, not her. God only knew how long it would have been until they or one of the staff noticed she was missing. Brit arranged round the clock nursing care for her, billed it to his parents, and left. At least he didn’t leave you on the patio.
“Why on Earth would I leave you on the patio, Savannah?” Landon’s disbelieving question could only mean one thing. Dammit, she’d spoken aloud…again. Fuck, fuck, fuckidy fuck.
“Not you, sorry. I was just remembering something from a long time ago.” There hadn’t been any reason to lie to him, but she didn’t want to share any more than necessary, either.
“Who? Who took you in and why?” He lowered them both into a chair and opened a small bottle of water for her.
Taking several long swallows before handing the bottle back, Savannah looked at Landon and sighed. She gave him the PCBS version, but it was obvious he wasn’t fooled. “When you were carrying me, I thought about that night. I don’t ever remember my parents carrying me, although I’m sure they must have.” Surely her mother carried her home from the hospital? But then again, there was very little about her parents’ detachment that she’d found out of the realm of imagination.
She hadn’t realized she was twisting her fingers together until his large hand wrapped over them. “We’re going to have a very long chat about your family sometime, Princess—but not tonight.” He stood and set her on her feet but didn’t release her until he was certain she wouldn’t falter. When she felt confident her legs were no longer made of rubber, she gave him a quick nod. “Come. It’s time for our scene, and I’m anxious to feel you wrapped around me.”
He led her quickly to one of the smaller stages. It wasn’t private, but it was certainly off the beaten path. She cast furtive glances around small circular platform and wanted to bolt. Most of what he planned to use was hidden from view, but the covered tray with a length of silk lying over the top looked ominous. Up until now, they’d only used a blindfold during two other scenes. He’d insisted on seeing her eyes until he was familiar enough with her body language to gauge her reactions. But the long piece of red silk told her tonight was going to be different. Savannah took several deep breaths, hoping the water she just drank stayed where it belonged.
Tobi, Gracie, and Jen all stood to the side, and she appreciated their moral support. They were each holding a small box, and Savannah wondered what part they were going to play in the scene. When her gaze returned to the padded spanking bench, her fingers involuntarily tensed in his hand. “Don’t make assumptions, pet. Things are not always what they seem.”
His calm was starting to seep into her, and she tried to relax as she whispered, “Yes, Sir.”
She could tell her effort had fallen short when he shook his head in frustration. “It’s time to give you something else to think about, Princess.” She wasn’t sure exactly what that meant, but she didn’t have to wait long for an answer, because after a few beats, he added, “Strip.”
Landon heard her suck in a breath, but she didn’t say a word. Her hands were trembling as she opened the one button holding the cropped shirt closed over her pert breasts. When he held out his hand, she placed it carefully over his palm and pulled in a deep breath. “You’re doing great, pet. Show the team how much you’ve learned.” Just as he’d known it would, the small reminder was all it took to bolster her courage. The trembling abated, and she slipped the short skirt down her legs, bending at the waist to pick it up, just as he’d taught her to do. Damn, Savannah’s flexibility was something to behold. Someday soon, he was going to make her do her entire yoga workout naked while he played with her.
“Kneel, pet. Hands behind your back, knees wide. I want everyone to see how beautiful you are.” Her grace brought appreciative nods from those gathering around the small platform. He used the padded cuffs looped on his belt to secure her hands. He slid a finger between her wrist and the cuff’s soft padding, and when he was satisfied they weren’t too tight, he reached for the silk scarf. “I’m taking away your sight because I want to focus that brilliant mind of yours. I’m going to fuck your mouth, and I want you to swallow every drop of the gift I’m going to give you. My pleasure is the only thing you should be thinking about.”
“Yes, Sir.”
Fucking perfect. As soon as the blindfold was in place, he nodded to the Kyle, who in turn led each of the women up the short stairs. Their bare feet were silent, and Savannah had no idea her new friends were scurrying around them.
Opening his leathers, Landon heaved a relieved sigh he hoped wasn’t audible, but the brief flicker of a smile lifting the corners of Savannah’s pink tinted lips let him know she’d heard it. “Minx.” He knew she would hear the smile in his voice. “Open for me, pet.” Sliding the engorged head of his cock between her lips was equal parts heaven and hell. Pure pleasure coursed through him as the ache in his balls became a burning sensation he recognized too well. Not fucking yet! I’m not even all the way in yet. And I’m not an inexperienced teenager, for Christ’s sake.
Gazing down on her halo of blonde waves as he slid in farther with each stroke took his breath away. She looked like an angel, but her devil-blessed mouth made him want to spend hours feeling the wet silk closing around him. When he felt his tip push into her throat, he groaned. “Fuck, pet, you undo me.” She moaned around him, and the vibration snapped the last threads of his control. He stared down and wished like hell he could see her eyes. The flicker of the candles the ladies had set aflame combined with the soft scent of the rose petals now scattered over the floor painted a picture in his mind, and Landon knew he was going to remember this moment for the rest of his life.
“Swallow on me, pet, and take it all.” The first flex of her throat mus
cles as she swallowed around him pushed him over, and his shout bounced off the wall in front of him. He’d called her name in a voice so rough and burning with passion he barely recognized it. It took him several seconds to recover enough to pull her to her feet and slam his mouth over hers. Tasting himself on her lips and letting their combined flavors burst over his buds sent a rush of blood back to his still erect cock.
Pulling back, he whispered against her ear. “You humble me, Savannah. I can’t begin to tell you how amazing that was. And if I can walk, we’ll step back two steps, and I’m going to return the favor.” Helping her into position over the spanking bench, he smoothed his hands up and down her arms after releasing the cuffs. “I’m not binding you to the bench because this isn’t a punishment. This is all about pleasure, and then I have a couple of gifts for you.”
Turning to the growing crowd, Landon smiled. “I’m pleased to see so many familiar faces, and I know my lovely pet will appreciate your support after we’re finished. She has only been in training as a submissive for a very short time, and as you can see, she’s a very quick study.” The buzz of agreement moved through the more experienced members, and he was so proud of her in that moment he wanted to burst.
