by Zara Chase
“No.” She bit her lower lip, leaned up on one elbow and did something she had never done in her life before. She placed her lips against his and actually instigated a kiss.
“Then what is it, darlin’?”
She lay back down and sent him a sultry smile. “I have the most urgent desire to touch you,” she said.
Chapter Seven
Rick looked down into sparkling brown eyes still gleaming with the aftereffects of mind-blowing sex. She looked gloriously disheveled with her brown and pink hair tangled beneath her, her cheeks flushed, her lovely body bathed in a thin sheen of perspiration. He had been about to get up, deal with the condom, and find a cloth so Sabine could clean herself up. Much as he would like to do it for her, that would constitute touching, and he didn’t want to break her fragile trust by crossing that boundary.
The desire to touch her with anything other than his teeth and cock while giving her what she—what they both—desperately needed had been overwhelming, but somehow he managed to hold back.
Now she wanted to touch him.
“You don’t need to do that, honey,” he said. “Much as I would like you to, people don’t get over phobias like yours in five minutes.”
“I doubt that I’m over it. I certainly don’t have any desire to touch the rest of mankind, but after what you just did to me, I most definitely want to touch you.”
“Aw, baby, it was my pleasure.”
“I don’t think you understand. I’ve never had more than one orgasm at a time before, and never any at all as intense as even the mildest of three you just gave me. I’ve always gotten it over with as quickly as possible so I wouldn’t have to have any contact with another person for a moment longer than necessary.”
“I figured as much.” He removed the condom, knotted the end and put it on the floor, damned if he was going to talk her out of something that had been her idea. “Okay, any particular part of me you especially need to feel?”
“Well, that chest. Can’t seem to get past it right now. Seems to me a gal could lose herself running her fingers across it.”
He chuckled. “Be my guest.”
“Hmm, no, not yet.” She canted her head and sent him a long, considering look, as though he was a work of art on exhibition and she was trying to decide if she liked what she saw. “There’s something else I need to do first.”
He leaned up on one elbow and smiled down at her. “Far be it from me to spoil your fun, so have at it.”
She leaned up, too, and tentatively circled his neck with her arms. He remained stock still, allowing her to set the running. Her breathing rate accelerated and he felt her hesitate. For a moment he thought she would have a change of heart. Then her fingers locked behind his neck and she sent him a triumphant smile.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“What did I do to deserve your thanks?”
“You made me understand there are some good people in this world.” She tangled her fingers in his hair, touching him with her hands but keeping daylight between their torsos. “It seems not everyone is out for what they can get.”
“Given the tough times you’ve had, it’s only natural you should think that way.”
“I probably have met some good people. Some of the foster families I lived with were really caring, but by the time I landed with them the damage had been done and I was too…well, too scared to trust them.”
His heart went out to his damaged little angel. His fingers itched to pull her close and comfort her. A lonely, angry kid too frightened, too worldly wise at far too young an age to believe anyone had her best interests at heart.
“You can trust me, darlin’.”
“I know. I think I’ve always known. I sensed there was something different about you the first time I saw you.”
“So tell me something. If you hate being touched so much, whatever possessed you to have the tattoo.”
“It’s symbolic. I had it done in Thailand just after I agreed to go work for Mike. I guess I was trying to prove something to myself. I was starting a new phase in my life, one where I would be respected for my skills, or so I thought.” She wrinkled her nose. “Anyway, I wanted to let someone touch me on my terms, just to prove I could withstand the experience.”
“That must have taken courage. I’m really proud of you.”
“It was torture. The guy who did it mostly only touched me with needles. They say tattoos hurt but I barely felt that pain. The pain inside my head at trusting someone to touch my body was ten times worse and it didn’t get me over that particular hang up. I still fear physical contact…well,” she amended, with a giggle, “I did.”
“It’ll get easier, baby. Once you learn not everyone in this world is a punk, you’ll start to trust and be more receptive of contact.”
She looked up at him and smiled. “Are you always right about everything?”
“Always,” he replied, kissing the top of her head. “Speaking of which, I’m glad you don’t think I’m a thief any more, but I don’t want you caught up in all the shit that’s about to go down.”
“Too late for that.”
He froze as one of her hands drifted to his chest and tentatively touched it. Then the second hand started to explore and she was no longer quite so reticent.
“Okay?” he asked.
“Yeah, it’s not so very difficult.” Her finger circled one of his nipples. “What do you plan to do about the people who are coming for you?”
“I need to talk to Leo about that. Make some contingency plans.”
“Then you ought to see him right away. You haven’t got much time to prepare. They could come for you at any time and I don’t want you to get hurt because you’re not ready for them.”
“Leo’s busy right about now.”
“How do you know that? Anyway, he’s only running the bar. I’m sure he’ll spare you a few minutes.”
“No, trust me, Leo’s busy. I’ll talk to him in the morning, but what I’m thinking is you should tell your boss you and I will be on night duty, alone, up at the eagle refuge the night after next.” Rick knew he ought to make it the following night. There was no reason to delay the inevitable.
There was every reason.
Right now that reason was tormenting his nipples with a feather light touch that was causing his cock to spring enthusiastically back to life. If things went wrong, if he had underestimated them in some way and he finished up the way they wanted him—which was dead—he definitely wanted one more full day and night with the woman who enthralled him. “I will be there, of course, but you won't."
She abandoned his chest, sat up and glared at him. “Says who?”
“I do. I don’t want you there. I can’t be worrying about your safety.”
Her glower intensified. “Has it occurred to you that I might actually be of some help?”
He drilled her with a searing look. “And has it occurred to you that I care about you too much to risk any harm coming to you? I don’t know how that happened,” he said, lowering his voice. “I’ve only known you a couple of days, but that’s the way it is. You’re special, Sabine, and now you’re starting to learn how to live, you need to stay alive so you can…well, get the most out of life.”
“Aw, Rick.” She leaned forward and covered his lips with hers. “But there’s a flaw in your plan. I can’t…make that won’t, go back to work for Mike. He set me up. You said so yourself. He will never let me be because I know too much, so this is my fight as much as it is yours.”
“Let me fight it for you, darlin’,” he said softly. “Let me protect you.”
“I can take care of myself. I’ve done a pretty good job of it up until now.”
“I know that.” He shook his head. Stubborn didn’t come close to describing her. “Let’s not spoil the mood by talking about this now.”
He rolled flat onto his back, wondering if she would go with him. She did, and then her tits were squashed against his chest, soft yet firm, warm and p
recious. She sighed, at which point Rick lost the battle to not return her touch. Even so, he asked permission first.
“If I were to slide an arm around you and hold you, would that freak you out, babe?”
She laughed. “I think I could withstand the torture, but there’s only one way to find out for sure.”
“I guess there is.”
He kissed the end of her nose as he gently touched her naked back for the very first time. He sensed her tremble and kissed her lips to distract her. It proved effective and she kissed him right back, passionately and with purpose. Rick tightened his hold on her, savoring the sweetness of her mouth as their bodies melded and he was overwhelmed with a torrent of protective feelings that were both sweet and paralyzing.
“Touching has a lot going for it,” he said, smiling into her dazed eyes when he finally broke the kiss.
“I guess that depends upon who’s doing the touching.”
“Absolutely. Stay right there. I’ll get a cloth and clean you up.”
Rick levered himself from the bed and disposed of the condom. He grabbed a washcloth from the bathroom, glancing wistfully at the large shower stall. He would so like to get Sabine in there with him, but he figured it would probably be too much, too soon.
“You want to do this yourself?” he asked when he returned to the bed and found her reclining, looking adorably satiated, right where he had left her.
“No, I’m getting used to your touch,” she replied, rueful mischief rather than uncertainty now reflected in her eyes.
“Okay, ma’am. Your wish is my command.”
He washed every inch of her slowly, seductively, using the cloth to arouse her again. Wiping it repeatedly over her breasts, causing her nipples to harden, and then rubbing it briskly between her legs.
“Turn over, darlin’. I need to be thorough.” He tapped her butt lightly when she had done as he asked. “Did you enjoy being punished?” he asked, wiping the backs of her thighs.
“Astonishingly enough, I did.” She turned her head sideways and glanced up at him. “How did you know I would?”
He chuckled. “Lucky guess.”
By the time he ran out of parts of her to wash, he was rock hard again. He lay back down and pulled her into his arms, so her head rested on his chest. She didn’t need to see he was ready for more action. They needed to take this slow…well, slower than he normally would.
“What aren’t you telling me?” she asked in a suspicious voice.
Oh baby, what a question. “I have a sixth sense about these things.”
“Don’t hold out on me, Rick. I’m a big girl. I can take anything except half-truths. I’ve had too much of that in my life already.”
He sighed. “You’re putting me on the spot here, babe. I’m just getting to know you, and don’t want to frighten you off.”
“Now you’ve really gotten me curious.” She tapped his chest. “Come on, Dwyer, spill the beans.”
Rick sighed, coming to a decision. “Okay, there’s no easy way to tell you this, so I guess I’d best just show you.” He sat up and pulled her with him. “Come on. You’ll be needing these.” He threw her panties at her, and stepped into his jeans. “And this.” He handed her her top.
“Where are we going?” she asked.
“You wanted honesty. I’ll show you what else us guys have in common apart from being American.”
“Hey, if we’re leaving this room, I’ll need more than panties and a top.”
“Trust me, darlin’, where we’re going, you’ll be overdressed.”
“Okay. I think.” She looked at him, bare-chested and bare-footed, and shrugged. She tied the tails of her shirt around her waist. It covered her bare tits, more or less, but her panties were so skimpy they left little to the imagination. He was pleased but not surprised that she was willing to venture from this room wearing not very much of anything. She didn’t seem to mind people looking at her. If she did, she wouldn’t have pink highlights. It was just touching she had issues with, and Rick had already gone some way to getting her over those. He held out a hand, and after only a fractional hesitation, she slid hers into it. Ruben looked up, Rick shook his head. “Not this time, bud.” The dog sighed and settled right back down to sleep again.
“Do you all have suites of rooms on this floor?” she asked when they ventured out into the corridor.
“All of us except Leo. He’s the boss, and the owner, so he gets the penthouse suite on the floor above us. Oh, and Darcy and Ross have the apartment over the garage nowadays. It’s quieter there for Chloe.” Well, that was part of the reason. She was about to discover the rest of it. “This way.”
He led her down the stairs and showed her their lounge and kitchen on the next floor down. “This looks cozy,” she said.
“Yeah, we don’t do much cooking for ourselves, but can if the fancy takes us. Tyrell cooks for the restaurant, and for us, too, most of the time.”
“I only saw him briefly earlier. He seemed kinda busy.”
“Yeah, he has cookery students from around the world on courses here throughout the summer. He was well known back in the States, had his own well-respected restaurant, and a lot of people want to learn from him. We’re lucky to have him.”
“It certainly sounds that way. His food tonight was lovely. Why did he give up his restaurant?”
“Why are any of us here?” Rick smiled at her. “I’m not holding out on you, babe, but the truth is I don’t know much about Tyrell’s reasons. None of us know much about each other, come to that, other than Leo. Anyway, I’ll tell Tyrell you enjoyed his food. He’ll be glad.” Rick took a deep breath. “Come on. This isn’t what I wanted to show you.”
Rick led the way down another level, punched a four-digit code into a steel door and pushed it open. The sound of whips cracking and people in various stages of sexual gratification filled the air, as did the musky scent of their arousal.
“Good lord, what is this place?” Sabine asked.
Rick said nothing, watching her as she looked around the dungeon with its crimson walls festooned with erotic frescos illuminated by low lighting. They were on the walkway that circled the action taking place below them.
“We’re all sexual Doms, darlin’,” he said, standing behind her as she glanced down, her eyes round with shock, astonishment, disgust−possibly all of the above. “And this is our private playroom, strictly by invitation only.”
“On my goodness!” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “I’ve heard about these places but never thought to see one.”
“Are you repulsed?”
“No, just interested.”
Rick let out a long breath. “Thank fuck for that. I thought you’d like it, but I couldn’t be absolutely sure. I’ve never shown it to anyone who wasn’t already into the life before.”
“How do you decide whether to bring a date here? What if she is repelled?”
“I don’t bring women here. Like I just said, it’s strictly invitation only.”
“Oh, then how do you—”
“Leo allows certain people who are into the lifestyle a free pass, but he’s very selective.”
“Is it legal?”
“Sure.” Rick shrugged. “They’re all consenting adults. Besides, half the law enforcement agencies in Nevella frequent the place.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Are you saying I’m the first non-member, for want of a better word, whom you’ve ever brought in here?”
“Yep. I had a feeling after what we just did that you’d like to see it.” He grinned. “Besides, I wanted to be honest with you. I can’t give this up, I’m really into it, and so I’m hoping you’ll take to it as well.”
“Don’t you have a sub? That’s what they’re called, aren’t they?”
“No, we split a while back.”
“Oh, then…just a minute, Tanya and Darcy.” She was definitely shocked this time. “They live here so that means they must be—”
“Who do you thi
nk that is down there, in the thigh-high boots with four inch heels and skimpy PVC outfit, having her butt whipped?”
“Oh good heavens, that’s Tanya and her new boots.” She shook her head. “She and Darcy seemed so…well, normal.”
“She is. We all are. We just like kinky sex, is all. And as you can see, Tanya no longer has issues with her body shape.”
“Why should she?” Tanya looked up, saw them watching and gave a cheerful little wave. Sabine tentatively waved back, astonished to see Tanya’s generous boobs hanging out of holes in the tiny PVC dress she was wearing. “Those tits are very formidable.”
“Yeah, they are. She hated everything about her body when she came here in the winter on a skiing trip. Ward, as you can see, disagrees and has got her loving herself.”
“No wonder you knew so many intimate things about her.” Sabine watched the action closely for a moment. “What has she got attached to her tits?” she asked.
“Nipple clamps. We can try them later, if you like.” Rick rested his hands on the railings, one on either side of her body, and pressed his erection into her back. “They will rock your world. Trust me on this.”
“Ward is really whipping her hard. It must hurt.”
Rick laughed. “Nah, she loves it. Can’t you tell?”
“Well, she does seem to be smiling.”
“She’s learned how to garner pleasure from pain, and would have a few choice words to say to Ward if she didn’t leave the dungeon with a few new bruises to show for it. I can teach you that, if you’ll let me.”
They watched as Ward gave Tanya a curt instruction. She turned onto her back, brought her knees up and spread her legs wide, giving them a clear view of her naked cunt. Ward brought the whip down across it several times, really hard. Sabine gasped.
“That must really hurt.”
“That’s why Ward is doing what he’s doing now.”
What he was actually doing was licking the area he’d just whipped and it was obvious Tanya loved every minute of it.
“Why are all the women wearing collars?”
“A sign of ownership.” He pushed his cock harder against her back. “I’m hoping to persuade you to wear mine.”
