by Measha Stone
"For me. I want to come for me," she finally admitted. "Please let me come."
He began to move again, his fingers closing around her clit and rolling it between the pads. Her swollen clit was tender, and she was writhing beneath him in no time. "Never lie, never pretend to be something you aren't." He thrust into her unsure if she even processed the words he spoke.
"Please, can I come, sir?" She found his eyes and asked. Nothing untrue in her gaze then, just her willingness to wait for his permission. He wondered how long he could make her wait, but at that moment his own desire rode the same wave as her own.
"Yes. Now or not at all." He flicked her clit once more and the strangled scream she released into the air may have filled the room, but the only thing his mind focused on was the hard clenching of her pussy around his dick, pulling his own release from him. He gave into the desire and hammered into her as she pulled on the headboard, her body pulling her into a second orgasm. Her muscles pulled at him, milking everything from him as he dove into his own orgasmic haze.
He fell forward, resting his head on her chest. The scent of sex and sweat brought him back to reality. Her chest began to slow as she found her breath, and her fingers lightly stroked his shoulders. She was coaxing him back to reality. He managed to build enough strength to look up at her. A gentle smile greeted him.
"You okay?" he asked, slipping from her and adjusting his position on the bed so he leaned over her, but wasn't crushing her.
"Better than okay." The glossy look in her eyes told him she wasn't quite down yet, she still fluttered up in space. He kissed her and rolled off of her, pulling her to his chest. He would hold her until she came all the way down to earth. Then he would explain his decision and hopefully she wouldn't say no, because there was no fucking way he could let her go.
CHAPTER TWELVE
Erin stared at Bradley as he ate his breakfast. She'd gotten up early and made pancakes. From scratch. He didn't seem to notice her staring while he shoveled in another bite of the fluffy cakes and read his paper. She shouldn't stare. It was rude. But she couldn't keep her eyes off of him.
She could sense him before he even arrived next to her. It was weird. She had slipped out of bed early, before his alarm went off, so she could get the batter going. It was eerily quiet in the large house, and she wondered why he didn't just move into a smaller place. He didn't employ staff, he had no real need for the space. It didn't make much sense to her.
The morning would be hectic for her. She had at least two projects that had been sorely neglected over the past few weeks, and she needed to set up a time to speak with a realtor to check out her options with the house. First things first, a nice breakfast with him before she headed out. The idea of leaving him made her stomach ache, so she hadn't touched her breakfast at all. She tried to mention her plans for the morning to him the previous night but whenever she brought up the morning, he distracted her. A kiss, a fondle, all great distractions, but she never got the conversation started. It was probably better this way. Eat, dress, leave.
"Aren't you going to eat?" He looked up from his paper and pointed to her full plate.
"Oh. Uh." She blinked a few times. Had he caught her gaping at him? "I'm not that hungry. I ate while I cooked." She had tried one of the pancakes earlier, that counted, didn't it? She didn't want to put it off anymore. If she was going to get through this without breaking down and crying, or begging him to keep her, she needed to get her ass in gear. "Actually, I should get going." She picked up the plate and brought it to the sink, dumping the contents into the trash.
His fork clanked on the plate when he dropped it. "It's only seven." He looked at his watch then back to her. "You said you don't get to the office usually until nine."
"Right. Yeah." She put her plate in the dishwasher. "But, still."
"Wait." The chair grated when he pushed back from the table, reaching her in only a few strides. "I should have done this last night." He took a deep breath and shoved his hands into his jeans. His muscles flexed with the movement. "I know we said this was just a weekend thing. Just a little fling to get you over your ex."
"I think I was already over him when I met you." She avoided his eyes when she made that statement.
"Yeah. I think so, too." He cupped her chin in his hand. "What I was going to say is, I know we said weekend fling, rebound fun, but I'd like to keep seeing you." His shoulders squared, but he didn't let go of her. "In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing you tonight after work. Here. Stay with me."
She pulled away and took a step back. Isn't that what she wanted? To have him for longer? So why were her insides twisting into more knots than before? "Bradley, I can't move in with you." She shook her head. Logical Erin was back in force.
"You can stay the week, can't you? I mean, it's closer to work here for you. A week, then we'll decide what to do."
"Would I have my own room?" If it was like a roommate situation maybe it would feel less rushed.
"No." The word dropped between them, heavy and loud. She couldn't help but smile over the irritation in his eyes, the possessiveness lurking there. "If you stay, you stay where I put you, and I put you in my bed." The gruffness of his voice sent tingles over her skin.
"A week?"
"We'll re-evaluate then. But before you say yes, I need you to understand a few things." He stepped to her, closing the gap between them. Her face warmed under the light touch of his fingertips as he traced her jawline. "I'm going to teach you my likes and my dislikes. We won't venture out of your limits, ever, but I will push you."
"Like train me?" She lost herself in his eyes, they were so dark, so warm, so intriguing.
"Yes. How to kneel, how to sit, how to speak, how to suck cock."
Her face flushed at the last item. "I-I didn't do it right?" Damn him for making her feel like a stupid high school girl. She wasn't the most skilled, but he seemed to have enjoyed himself pretty thoroughly.
He let out a burly laugh. "Oh, you did it just right, damn near perfect. But I like things, well, a little rough. I'm going to teach you to take me all the way in, down your throat, until tears fall down your face, your makeup smears and you're left breathless."
She knew should be terrified. That sounded mean and horrible, but her body responded to his words, and she wondered what it would do when it actually happened. "You like my discomfort." She licked her dry lips. He already had her panting with the way he was looking at her, holding her.
"Your pain is my pleasure." He nodded and laughed, a low guttural sound that warmed her. "Sorry, just a little cliché I guess. Yes, Erin, I like your pain, I like the sounds you make when the flogger strikes. The way your eyes open wide when I pinch those nipples of yours, and when you beg me, my dick damn near explodes."
"Oh." His thumb ran over her lower lip, and she reached out with her tongue and licked him. He grinned. "And outside of the bedroom?"
"Outside of the bedroom our dynamic doesn't change." A sadness flashed in his eyes when he spoke, as though he'd just confessed a dark sin.
"Will I still get to make you breakfast in the mornings?" She tried to smile. She wanted to. She wanted to make his coffee, bring him his meals, make his bed. She wanted to do all of the things that made his life a little easier.
"Absolutely." A relief washed over his face. "And dinner if you want."
"It won't bother you to have me underfoot?" Jonathan hated having her clean up behind him, doing the dishes right after dinner, folding his clothes for him.
"You won't be. You'll be exactly where I want you." His hands framed her face and pulled her to him. Lightly his lips brushed hers, then with more force, until he claimed her in a possessive kiss. His tongue dove deep inside her mouth as he pressed his body against her, trapping her against the counter behind her. His hand slid behind her, entwining in her hair as he deepened the kiss. She rested her hands on his chest, not pushing, not clawing, just taking in the strength of him as she kissed him back. She needed him in that moment, need
ed his strength.
When he pulled away his pupils were dilated, his mouth curled into a lewd grin. "There will be other things. Things I ask you to do that you may not like, but I'll expect you to do them anyway."
"Okay." There was little doubt in her mind that she wouldn't say no to him about anything.
"So accommodating." He chuckled. "Mm hm, we'll see. For now, I'll have George drive you to work. What time do you think you'll be finished?" He didn't release her, he kept his hand fisted in her hair. The pain of it being pulled only centered her attention on him more.
"I have meetings this morning. I was planning on working until dinner time."
"Good. Then I'll meet you here for dinner." His fingers slowly released her hair, but didn't move from behind her head.
"I have to go back to my house. I need clothes. I need to get my mail."
"Fair enough. George can drive you." She shook her head. "Already defying me?" He grinned down at her.
"The train would be faster at that time of day. I'll just take the train."
He raised an eyebrow. The man could look downright terrifying when he wanted to. "Okay. I'm supposed to take the night shift tonight anyway. Alex apparently has fucked up with Alyssa and is side-tracked. I'll be home by ten, at the latest. Once everything's in full swing at the club." He pulled her against him, tucking her under his chin. She couldn't help the sigh that escaped her. "George will pick you up at your house at eight o'clock, not a second later." He kissed her forehead and let her go.
"Okay." She nodded and took a deep breath. "I need to get my purse." She left him in the kitchen, her insides still trembling. He wanted her to stay. He wanted her to stay the whole week. And maybe more? One part of her told her she was moving too fast, to slow down before she crashed, but the other part—the part she normally ignored—cheered her on. She needed a cheerleader right now.
*
Erin walked into her old bedroom and looked around. She'd been staying with Bradley for several days, and already her house felt more foreign than his. The last several days had opened her mind to a part of herself that she realized she'd been trying to hide. Not just from the outside world, but mostly herself. If she had admitted to her desires and her needs, she would have to admit that Jonathan wasn't the guy for her. She would have seen that he was the guy at the moment, but not the guy for forever.
Not that she deluded herself into thinking Bradley would be forever. She wouldn't go that far. She wouldn't allow herself to think that. It would make it only that much harder later when she had to leave, when he was finished showing her what he wanted to show her. She didn't want to think about that either. It didn't seem to matter which direction her thoughts went, the endpoint was the same, disappointment. But, she'd spent most of her young life preparing for the future, planning and plotting. This time, she was going to just let the dice roll. See how things played out. She could do that. Right?
The living room felt cold. She decided to turn down the AC. She wasn't staying there, no reason to throw money out the window. Her cell buzzed and she pulled it out right away, expecting a call from Bradley. One of his rules involved her phone. If he called or texted her she was never to ignore it. If she was busy she was to respond with a timeframe of when she'd get back to him. "It's about respect." He had explained. "I won't ignore you, and I won't be ignored." She didn't see anything wrong with that. She knew a few girls at work liked to play games with their boyfriends or husbands. Ignoring them until they got the apology they wanted, or played hard to get by being evasive. It was a petty game, and she was glad he felt the same.
Where are you???
Kelly, again. She'd gotten at least five texts a day between Jessica and Kelly. From what she'd found out from Bradley, which wasn't much, Alex had his hands full begging forgiveness from Alyssa. She'd only met Alyssa a few times, but Bradley assured her she was worth his groveling, and Alex deserved every rejection he got until she was good and ready to forgive him.
Home. Busy.
There. She hadn't ignored her. Bradley had been adamant that she contact her friends after she left his house on Monday morning. They were concerned and even though she knew Kendrick knew where she was, Kelly and Jessica would be climbing the walls if she didn't at least let them know she was alive. But it wasn't enough for them, they continued to dig for details she wasn't ready to spill.
They'd kept plenty of secrets from her. She just wanted this one. This one time, to be all her own and all about her. She didn't want to analyze or judge it, she just wanted to keep enjoying it while she had it. Kelly of all people would probably understand, but she'd still want all of the details and information. Just a few more days, then she'd get them together for lunch or something. But not yet.
Erin found a pile of mail spilled on the floor in the front hall and sighed. She'd put a hold on mail, but apparently Jonathan hadn't. She picked up the envelopes one by one. All but one was addressed to Jonathan, bills and junk mail. The one addressed to her didn't have any stamps on it, but had her full name and address. No return address either.
She tossed Jonathan's mail on the small table and slid her finger into the fold of the envelope, peeling it away and opening it. Turning it upside down, several photographs spilled out into her hand. Each one of her. On the night of the auction. The first two pictures were of her getting out of the cab and going inside. The third picture was of her and Bradley. Someone had seen them cross the back street. The last photo zoomed in on their hands, capturing the leash tethered to her wrists as Bradley lead her across to the garage.
Jonathan had teased her when she'd put a chair in the front hall. Calling it useless. She sank into it when her knees gave out. Someone had seen them. Someone had taken pictures! Of her on a leash! She shoved her hand in the envelope again, afraid she'd find more pictures, but what she found was worse. A letter with demands.
Peek a boo! I see you! Your master possesses more than he should. Things that rightfully belong to me. I need information. I'll be in touch with my needs, for now… enjoy the fun while it lasts. I would suggest not involving him, otherwise these photos and more will have to be exposed. Not sure how your parents or your work would feel about your extracurricular activities.
It took a moment for her to catch her breath and then she read it again. Who would want information about Bradley? What sort of information? And why the hell would they think she could get it? She'd only known him for a brief time. He wasn't going to spill any secrets to her, none that some stranger could use to blackmail him. And even if he did, she wouldn't hand over those secrets. Would she?
She hadn't even told her parents yet about her break up with Jonathan. If they received those photographs, it would scare the hell out of them. They'd probably think she'd been kidnapped. Her head began to ache.
The front door swung open and Jonathan swept into the hallway, surprising her. She screamed and jumped up from the chair. He looked her over with narrowed eyes and shook his head. "It's just me. Calm down."
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, bending down to pick up the photographs she dropped, before he could see them.
"I just wanted to grab my mail. You haven't been home."
"Your mail is over there." She pointed at the small pile on the table.
"Where've you been staying?" His question annoyed her. Did she hear a snip of jealousy there?
"Out. I've been out." She eyed him. He'd lost more weight, and his face was pale considering the sun had been blaring for the past several weeks.
He looked her over again and shook his head. "You haven't talked to Jessica or Kelly. Both have sent me worried texts."
"I'm handling it," she snapped. He'd never really considered himself part of their group, so it wasn't surprising that he'd ignore them when they reached out. Her phone buzzed, and she looked down quickly at it expecting it to be one of them. They had that sort of timing lately. Bradley. She declined the call with the intent to send him a quick message but then Jonathan derailed her.
"Well, I'm glad you're here, actually." He dug into his back pocket and pulled out a bank envelope. "I was going to leave this for you if you weren't here again. I closed out the checking account. Here's your half. I also closed the credit card, and paid off the balance. I took what was needed to pay it off from the checking before I split the money."
She took the money from him and shoved it into her purse along with the mystery mail she'd received. "The bank let you close the account without me?"
"Yeah. I was primary, you were just on the account. I'm going to make an appointment for a realtor to come out and assess the house. We should list it soon. The housing market isn't so bad right now; we should at least get back what we spent."
"I haven't decided what I want to do. Maybe I'll just buy you out of it." Her temper began to rise. He was making all sorts of decision for her now that he was out of her life.
"You can't afford it, Erin." He tilted his head. "Just put the house up for sale. Make this easy."
"On you or me? Cause you seem to have had it easy this whole damn time." She didn't wait for a response. She turned on her heel and went to the kitchen. She needed water and to get the hell away from him.
"Look, I'm sorry for the way this played out. Obviously, I hurt you."
"Oh, shut up!" Erin yelled at him as he made his way into the kitchen. "I don't want to hear apologies or anything else. I just want a few days to figure out what I'm going to do about my living situation. You've had six months to figure all this out. The least you can do is give me a few days."
He paled slightly at her outburst and then nodded. "Fine. Just a few more days." He turned to leave but paused. "Erin, if you haven't been staying here, and the girls don't know what's going on, where are you staying?" If he hadn't said it with so much concern in his voice she could have rolled her eyes and ignored him.
