by Leah Brooke
“You do.” Ace turned her away from him and slowly washed her back. “I love that you’re strong, but I need to know that you respect my wishes. I need you to think for yourself but defer to me in things that are important to me.”
Hope grimaced and glanced at him over her shoulder. “Such as my safety.”
“Nothing’s more important.” Ace turned her toward him again and gathered her close. “Sometimes you terrify me.” Lifting his head, he pushed her wet hair back and lifted her chin. “I find myself on the fence most of the time, part of me wanting to give you free rein to be the headstrong woman you are and part of me wanting to put you in my pocket to keep you safe. I love you, Hope. I try to make you happy, but I feel at times that we’re not giving this everything we can. You’re everything I’ve always wanted in a woman, but there are times when you frustrate the hell out of me.”
“And that doesn’t sit well with you, does it, Sheriff?”
“No, baby. I can’t say that it does.” Ace finished rinsing and, with a flick of his wrist, turned the water off.
He handed her a towel before reaching for one for himself, stepping out of the shower and quickly drying as he headed for the bedroom.
Hope wrapped the towel around herself and followed him, stopping abruptly when she saw him standing next to the bed, rubbing his hair dry. “Ace?”
“I told you that I’ve been too lenient with you. Dry your hair while I pick out your clothes.”
Chapter Twelve
Because Ace had been more intense in his demands, their trip to the playroom had been very enlightening, proving his wife’s need to surrender herself completely.
She’d fought it, of course, but he’d caught enough glimpses of what could be to want more.
Cursing himself for letting his love for his beloved wife blind him to what they both needed, Ace finished placing their order and took his wife’s hand in his. “What’s wrong? You’re staring at the privacy booths.”
Hope sighed and used her free hand to reach for her glass of wine. “I always wanted to go into one of the privacy booths because I wanted to see what it was like, but I understand now why you wouldn’t want to go in one. I think I would be a little embarrassed walking into one, especially since a lot of the people in the restaurant know us.”
Ace smiled, bringing her hand to his lips. “Exactly.” He waited until she met his gaze again. “What happens between us is no one else’s business, which is the only reason you don’t have a butt plug up your ass right now.”
Hope gasped, her eyes widening. “Why? I don’t understand.”
Aware that the waiter approached with bread and their salads, Ace smiled again. “Most of the men in Desire can spot a woman with a butt plug up her ass by the way she walks.”
Sitting back as the waiter neared, Hope smiled. “Really?”
“Really.” He let his gaze rake over her, picturing the way she looked under the dress, with only a skimpy, black lace bra and matching garter belt and stockings.
His cock stirred as he formulated his plans for the night ahead.
Watching her dig into her salad, he buttered a roll for her and held it to her lips. “Open.”
Her eyes flared with desire, and opening her mouth, she leaned forward, taking a bite of the roll, her eyes never leaving his.
To keep her in the mindset that he knew would give both of them a great deal of pleasure, Ace kept his expression cool. “Good girl.”
Her eyes flared again, and after chewing the small bite of food, she licked her lips. “Thank you.”
Ace smiled, his cock twitching. “You’re welcome. It’s nice to see that you can remember your manners when you choose to.”
Hope’s breath caught, her eyes becoming less focused. “Yes.”
Inwardly smiling at the breathlessness in her voice, Ace picked up his fork and gestured toward her plate. “Eat your salad.”
He watched with narrowed eyes when she hesitated, his chest swelling with satisfaction when she took a steadying breath, nodded, and picked up her fork again. “Good girl.”
Hope’s hand shook as she stabbed into her salad. “I really love this side of you. You know that, don’t you?”
Watching her closely, Ace inwardly smiled at her flushed features, a flush that he could see easily even in the dim light. “Do you?” At her nod, he set his fork aside and regarded her steadily. “Why?”
Hope glanced at him, her smile falling as she appeared to understand the importance he placed on his question.
Frowning thoughtfully, she finished her bite of salad before answering. “It’s hard to explain.”
“Try.”
Toying with her salad, she shrugged, clearly embarrassed at having to put it into words. “It makes me feel special. Sexy. Desired.”
Shaking her head, she set her fork aside and reached for her wine. “No. It’s more than that.
She took a sip of wine and set it aside. “When you—”
She looked around as if making sure that no one would overhear her, lowering her voice even more as she leaned forward and met his gaze again. “I feel closer to you, and I know this sounds crazy, but I feel safer—more secure—when you’re in charge.”
Grimacing, she straightened and reached for her wine again. “Not exactly something I like to admit. I like thinking that I’m independent and able to take care of myself.”
He’d known for some time that this stage in their relationship would come and was glad to be prepared for it. “And you can.” Taking her hand in his, he smiled. “Hope, when I met you and you told me that you wanted me to dominate you, I had a little trouble believing that you could give me the level of submission that I need from you.”
She smiled ruefully. “I remember. It took forever to convince you that I could be what you wanted. What you needed.” Leaning closer, she laid her hand on his forearm with a frown. “I am, aren’t I?”
Covering her hand with his, Ace smiled. “Yes, you are—probably more so than you realize. This is something we need to talk about. Finish your salad. Our dinner should be about ready. We’ll talk then. I don’t want to be interrupted when the waiter comes.”
Her safety and well-being were the most important things in the world to him, as well as her pleasure.
She wouldn’t understand how much closer they’d become, but he did.
Dominating the woman he loved was a dream come true to him, and he relished the chance to take the relationship to an even deeper level.
He relished the chance to become even closer and more connected to his wife and create a connection between them even stronger than the one they now shared.
* * * *
Hope waited impatiently for the waiter to finish delivering their food, glancing at her husband to find him sitting back in his seat watching her.
Her clit tingled at the glint in his eyes, his cool demeanor arousing her as much as his warmth and playfulness.
Sometimes more.
Leaning forward, Ace refilled her wine glass before settling back again. “You know that I was attracted to you a long time ago—long before you were ready for it. Eat.”
Hope glanced down just long enough to pick up her silverware before meeting his glittering gaze again. “I wanted you, too.” Frowning, she cut into her chicken. “You made me wait.”
Ace picked up his own silverware and cut into his steak. “I did. I waited until you were mature enough to begin to explore the submissive within you.”
“I had to practically throw myself at you to get you to even go out with me.”
Ace’s lips twitched. “You were always headstrong. Stubborn. Always willing to do whatever it took to get what you wanted.”
“You’re the same way.”
Ace took a bite of the steak, savoring the burst of flavor. “I am, and I wanted you.”
“Then why didn’t you just take me?”
Pleased that she took the subject of their conversation seriously, and had apparently become more curious,
he smiled at her. “Because you had to decide for yourself if you were ready to explore your submissive side. You had to want to submit—to surrender yourself. It couldn’t be rushed, but when you seemed so anxious, I wanted to be the one to show you. You only did it to prove yourself to me.”
She grinned at him, remembering just how happy she’d been to please him and the memory of how stunned she’d been at how much pleasure she’d gotten. “It worked, didn’t it?”
“It did.” Ace smiled faintly, his eyes sharp. “It proved to me that you were indeed a submissive but probably more so than you understand. You saw how much pleasure you could get by submitting, but as time goes by, you realize that there’s much more to it. I think you’re ready to go deeper.”
“You said that before. I don’t understand what you mean.”
“I know you don’t, baby. You’ll see. It’s time. As independent as you are, you need the security. You also need to trust me more and, even more than that, trust yourself. You’re a submissive down to your soul, something that is going to be an ongoing struggle for you, especially when you realize just how much pleasure and satisfaction you’ll get from surrendering completely.”
Hope smiled, anticipating the pleasure ahead. “So, more trips to the playroom?”
“It’s a little more than that—as you’ll learn. It’ll piss you off at times, which is understandable, and expected, but you’ll obey me or pay the consequences. You have to allow yourself to put aside your embarrassment and pride to fully experience something I think will give both of us a great deal of satisfaction.”
Indignation warred with desire, the conflicting emotions confusing and alarming, especially when her husband’s knowing gaze told her that he understood what was going on inside her. “You said consequences. You’ll spank me?”
Even the question excited her.
Ace dug into his steak again. “It’s one of the tools in my belt but certainly not the only one. But you only think about the actions, not the mindset behind them. I think more discipline will be good for you. I think you need it as much as I do. I know I’ll feel a hell of a lot more secure if I know that you’re thinking before you do something reckless.”
“What are you talking about? I’m not reckless.” Hope glanced away when Ace raised a brow, her face burning at the thought of the times she’d done something, such as speeding, to get her husband to spank her. “Okay. I used to speed. I already promised not to do it anymore.”
Narrowing his eyes, Ace inclined his head. “As you have many times—every time you get caught. The next time you get a ticket I’m taking your keys away.”
Hope stiffened. “You wouldn’t!”
Raising a dark brow, Ace met her gaze steadily. “I never make idle threats, Hope. Eat.”
Ace knew that keeping the conversation light would help his beloved wife settle before he rattled her again.
He’d keep her off balance, which would have her turning to him more and more for guidance.
It was something he’d done from the beginning but not with the intensity that they both obviously needed.
Watching her dig into her mashed potatoes, Ace studied her flushed features. “I know you need to go to the club tomorrow to help Charity set up for the show this weekend.”
He was proud of her for having shows every other month, highlighting several of the other businesses in town.
Members of the women’s club, especially those who were a bit shy, could shop from the displays of local vendors or see what the local vendors carried, which would encourage them to go into their stores.
In return, local vendors posted flyers of the women’s club in their windows and placed them in each bag with every purchase.
Hope shrugged. “I’d like to, but I hate leaving you alone. You’re still recovering.”
“I’m fine, Hope, and you know it.” He cut into his steak again. “I’ll take you and pick you up.”
“Don’t trust me to drive?”
Ace smiled at the trepidation in her voice. “No, but it’s not that. I just prefer to take you and pick you up.”
Hope chewed her bite of food, eyeing him thoughtfully. “Okay.”
“Good girl. I’ll have you there early, and you can let me know when you’re done.”
Hope finished eating and reached for her wine. “It shouldn’t take more than four or five hours. We need to set up the games, get the prizes ready, and fill the goodie bags. Mom and the dads are providing the sandwiches and drinks.”
“I know. Beau and I will be delivering them.”
It would give him a chance to check on her after putting his plan for her in place.
Hope nodded, her gaze on his. “When will you be going back to work?”
“Monday, but the doc made me agree to part-time for a week.”
Hope blinked. “I’m surprised that you agreed.”
Sitting back, Ace sipped his water. “It suits my purpose.”
His plans for his wife had been thwarted by the accident, and the events of the last several days had shown him that she needed more of his attention.
His cock twitched at the thought of earning more and more of his wife’s submission, and he found the opportunity to play and explore as intoxicating as when he’d taken her the first time.
“Do you want dessert?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go.”
Chapter Thirteen
Hope watched her husband all the way home, unable to stop trembling.
She trusted her husband completely, and reveled in submitting to him, but his vow to take things deeper brought her old fear of not being what he needed back to the surface.
She loved him with every fiber of her being, her love for him so intense that, at times, it scared her.
He turned into the driveway, glancing at her as he cut the engine and opened his door. “Stay put.”
He closed the door, plunging her into darkness, which only seemed to heighten the erotic tension in the air.
She undid her seatbelt, watching her husband round the front of his SUV, his harsh features illuminated by the streetlight in front of their house.
His features remained cool as he opened her door, but once he moved closer, there was no mistaking the hunger in his eyes.
He closed his hands on her waist and, holding her gaze, lifted her from her seat, sliding her down his body as he slowly lowered her to her feet. “When we get inside, go straight to the bedroom and take off everything except for your garter, stockings, and shoes.
He closed the door, pulled her hands behind her back, and held them there with one large hand wrapped around her wrists. “Then you’re gonna stand, facing the bed, and bend over the edge, spreading your legs wide. You’ll stay like that and wait for me.”
Imagining herself in such a position, Hope sucked in a breath, the warmth of his chest against her nipples and his breath against her temples leaving the rest of her feeling chilled. “Okay.”
His free hand slid under the hem of her dress in the back, the sharp slap to her bottom cheek drawing a gasp from her and making her jolt.
“Is that how you answer me?”
Her pussy clenched with need, releasing another rush of moisture to coat her inner thighs.
“No, Sir. I’m sorry, Master.”
Her words came out breathless and needy, just the act of addressing him in such a way taking her deeper into the world where nothing existed except her husband.
And a hunger that only he could satisfy.
Caressing her bottom cheek, he held the heat in. “Better. We’re gonna have to work on your manners. There’s a blindfold on the bed. Put it on. Do you understand what you’re supposed to do?”
Leaning into him, Hope lifted her face and pressed it against him, needing the contact. “Yes.”
She tried to convince herself that it had been an accident, but she had to admit to herself that she’d done it on purpose.
Ace, of course, didn’t let her get away with it.
He slapped her ass again, making the sting even more intense. “Yes, what?”
“Yes, Sir.” Her pussy clenched, need taking over.
Caressing her bottom, he brushed his lips over her hair. “You always have to test me, don’t you?”
He knew.
She wasn’t surprised.
Ace always knew.
Her husband’s ability to see things that other people missed not only made him good at what he did but also made him an excellent Dominant.
And a frustrating husband.
Nuzzling his jaw, she smiled. “Yes, but I don’t know why.”
Still running his hand over her bottom, Ace pressed his lips against her hair. “I know you don’t, baby.”
Sliding his hand from under her dress, he released her wrists, keeping a steadying arm around her as they made their way to the front door.
Leaning into him, Hope sighed. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. You feel the need to challenge me because you feel safer testing your boundaries and knowing that they’re secure. I understand that, baby.”
Hope had a feeling that her husband understood a hell of a lot more of the mental side of being a submissive than she ever would.
He caught her when she stumbled, keeping a firm arm around her. “Wine, arousal, and high heels shouldn’t go together, but they seem to all the time.”
“I almost have to wear high heels when I go out with you. I look tiny next to you.”
Ace unlocked and opened the door, guiding her inside. “You are tiny.”
Once inside, she turned to him, blinking when he turned on the light. “I’m average for a woman.”
She was so nervous, her stomach muscles tight with tension.
After closing and locking the door, he tossed his keys onto a nearby table with a smile. “There’s nothing average about you.” With his hands on his hips, he lifted a brow. “You’re not moving.”
Hope nodded, turning away, only to turn back again. “Ace?”
He seemed to understand that nerves had gotten the better of her. Moving closer, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her against him and lifting her chin to stare into her eyes. “Yes, baby?”
