A Little Harmless Faith

by Melissa Schroeder

  “Yes.”

  “I have a feeling that you might like spanking.” She nodded. He hummed, and it seemed to vibrate through his body. “Have you ever participated in rope play?” he asked, as he started to unbutton his shirt.

  “Yes.”

  “Breath play.”

  “Absolutely not.”

  His mouth curved. “Me either. I tempted death a few too many times to play with that.”

  He dropped his shirt on the floor and then undid his belt and removed it. Her nipples tightened even more as anticipation wound through her body.

  He stepped up closer to her again and slipped his finger beneath her chin. He waited until she made eye contact.

  “There is one thing you need to understand,” he said. His tone turned rougher when he next spoke. I own your pleasure, Nicola. Every sigh, every moan, every release. They. Are. Mine. Do you understand?”

  “Yes.”

  He nodded and stepped away again. Dammit, he was killing her by drawing this out. Usually, she thrived on it, and she normally would be happy to let her Dom take his time. Tonight, each move he made left her more aroused. He didn’t even have to touch her. Just the thought of what was next had her ready to scream.

  He was facing away from her, but she could see in the dresser mirror that cocky little smile curving his lips. Jensen knew exactly what this was doing to her.

  “I went to the club today and Micah allowed me to shop before they were opened. I had to guess at what you liked, but maybe we need to pick up some rope tomorrow. I do like to tie up a woman and make her come.”

  She shivered, her breasts swaying with the motion. Her reaction caught his attention, which was reflected in the mirror, was another turn on. He raised his gaze to hers and the heat she saw in his eyes added another layer of arousal. A Dom who could control himself this well was a force to be reckoned with. He was also going to probably show her the time of her life.

  “All right, I settled on a few spanking toys and vibrators. Of the toys, which do you prefer?” he asked turning around. In one hand he held a wide paddle. The other, a flogger.

  “I like both, but the flogger is what I would prefer.”

  He smiled. “Amazing that you make such a good sub. I never would have believed it, but…well, let’s not go into that right now.” He set the paddle down, then grabbed something else. When he made his way to her, she noticed it was a vibrator. He set the toys on the bed, then stepped in front of her again. “What is your safe word?”

  “Iris.”

  “You may move your hands to the front now.” He rubbed her shoulders, relieving some of the tenseness. Another sign of a good Dom. “I know it goes without saying but tell me if you have any discomfort. Not to the level of a safe word, but just uncomfortable. Don’t want to strain your muscles.”

  She nodded.

  “Normally, I wouldn’t care if you called me Jensen or Sir. I think it would best if we use Sir during play.”

  It was a way of separating their working and personal relationships. She didn’t normally go for the idea, but somehow it fit Jensen.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  He chuckled, the sound dancing over her nerve endings.

  “I think that’s the first time you have ever called me Sir. Now take off my pants.”

  Nicola unbuttoned then unzipped his pants, slipping them down his legs. She was a bit disappointed that he was wearing a pair of knit boxers. His erection strained against the soft fabric. He stepped out of them and she picked them up. After taking them from her, he folded the pants and placed them on the dresser.

  He caught her gaze as he walked back to her. She didn’t like Dom’s who ordered a woman not to look at him. There had been one in her past that told her to stare at the floor. She told him to fuck off and left. They were definitely not compatible.

  But here with Jensen, she felt comfortable. It was almost as if they understood each other on this level, which made no sense. Their public lives were totally different from this. She felt in sync with him more so than Akito one of her favorite Doms. Nicola had a feeling that none of them were going to compare to Jensen.

  He took her hands and said, “Stand up.”

  She did as he ordered, then waited. It was apparent that Jensen was the type of Dom who liked to draw things out. Her heart pounded against her chest as she tried to control her breathing. What would he do next, or have her do? They hadn’t even really started, and she was so damned wet. Just the thoughts that were running through her head about what would come next.

  He walked up behind her.

  “What is going on in that head of yours, Nicola?” he said, his breath against her ear.

  “Nothing, Sir.”

  He slapped her ass. It was barely a slap, but the heat of his palm against her flesh sent a fresh wave of arousal low in her belly. Jesus. “That’s for lying to me. Tell me.”

  “I like that you don’t mind me looking at you or making eye contact.”

  He rested his chin on her shoulder. His breath feathered over her neck. “Some Dom’s don’t like that, I take it?”

  She nodded.

  “I will never understand some people. I’m sure that some subs like that though. Granted, everyone has a way to control their sub, but I like to do it through our play.”

  She shivered, and he moved away again, stepping in front of her.

  “Turn around, love,” he said.

  She tried not to pay attention to what pet name he called her, especially love. Nicola had a feeling he used it with all his subs. While it wasn’t common in the United States, it was in England. Making more of it would end in heartache.

  She pushed that thought aside and turned.

  “Take those delectable panties off, just leave them on the floor, then I want you on your knees on the bench. Hands on the mattress.”

  Nicola had to fight the urge to rip her own panties off. Instead, she took her time, bending over as she slipped the delicate fabric down her legs. She took her time straightening and he chuckled.

  “I’ll make you pay for that temptation.”

  She got into position, he walked over to the bed and picked up the flogger. He moved it to and fro, showing her he knew how to handle himself. What was she thinking? Of course he knew how to handle himself. He’d been a Dom for several years now, and she knew he had a reputation.

  He slid the tassels of the flogger down her back and she waited.

  “Spread your legs apart and keep your head up. You know the rules. No coming until I let you. And as always, use your safe word if I go too far.”

  It was the only warning she got before the flogger came down hard on her ass. He hit the exact same spot he had smacked earlier, and she knew it was no accident. Her flesh was already sensitive there, and the smack of the flogger heightened her arousal. He flogged her twice more in that spot before moving onto her right butt cheek. Again, and again, he brought the flogger down on her ass. She curled her fingers into the comforter as each slap increased her craving. The vibrations from the punishment left her pussy deliciously damp. Need crawled through her. Need to moan, need to come....need for him. More than once, she almost came from the flogging alone.

  He stopped abruptly, then she felt his cool palm against her heated skin. The simple caress was almost tender, considering his actions just moments before.

  “So gorgeous,” he muttered, hunger deepening his voice. She felt his lips against her skin and she closed her eyes. The moan that escaped came from some place within her she didn’t control.

  He gave her cheek one last caress before he leaned over her. When he spoke, he whispered in her ear. “Always show me your pleasure, love. It lets me know what you like, what I can do to push those very tight buttons of yours.”

  He took her earlobe between his teeth and tugged. Then, he stepped away. Nicola heard the clunk of the flogger on the dresser. When he returned to the bed, he helped her situate herself on the bench once more, before grabbing the vibrator.


  “Now, love, come closer to the edge and spread those legs. I want to see my pussy.”

  She wasn’t too happy with the word my and opened her mouth to respond, but he slapped her sex.

  It didn’t hurt of course. Instead, her pussy lips contracted as she fought against the orgasm. Fuck.

  “I didn’t ask for your opinion. Just do what I say.”

  The authority in his voice was quiet, controlled, and that was more arousing than anything he could do to her physically. This wasn’t her Jensen, the man she knew so well. This was Sir, the man of her dreams, the one that could make her orgasm with just a few words.

  She spread her legs and he hummed. Those hums of his were as delicious as the physical things he was doing to her body.

  “Incredibly wet. Your lips are dripping, love,” he said as he slid his fingers over her. Then, he lifted his hand to his mouth. As he made eye contact, he tasted her on his fingers. Another hum.

  “Just as I expected. Delicious.”

  His British accent seemed to deepen as it rolled over the syllables of the last word. He placed a hand on each of her thighs and leaned over and licked her sex. He teased her slowly, surely. After slipping her legs over his shoulders, he bent his head and devoured her. It was the only word she could use to describe what he did to her. Repeatedly, he slipped his tongue inside, then up and over her clit. Nicola fell back against the bed as she fought the orgasm that seemed to have her dangling on the edge. And at the point where she thought she couldn’t fight it any longer and decided to deal with the consequences, he moved away from her.

  “Nicola,” he said.

  She opened her eyes. Once again, he waited until her gaze met his. Then, without warning, he smacked her pussy again and left his hand there so she couldn’t squeeze her legs together.

  “I said don’t come.”

  He slid his hand away to grab the vibrator. “You’re wet enough that we don’t need lube. At least I am assuming.”

  She nodded. He slid the vibrator into her pussy and turned it on. He didn’t linger at the lower levels. Instead, he turned it up on high. As he pushed it to the hilt, he leaned down and kissed her. Just the softest of kisses at first, then he slid his tongue into her mouth. There she tasted herself, adding another layer to his seduction. He pulled back.

  “Do you want to come?” he asked.

  She opened her eyes. “Yes, sir.”

  “I’m just not sure.”

  He turned the vibrator up a notch as he thought about it. She ground her teeth together as she fought against her need for release.

  He pulled the vibrator away. “Not just yet. I’m not doing this to be mean, but I want to test you. I need to know your limits.”

  She said nothing, but took a deep breath trying to gather her control for the next challenge.

  “Sit up, love.” He waited for her to do so. “Pull down my boxers just so my cock is free.”

  Eager for this, she finished the task in a matter of just a few seconds.

  “That’s far enough,” he said when she had exposed his cock and sac. “You may touch, but not too much.”

  She licked her lips as she wrapped her hand around him. She knew there would be hell to pay for it, but it was time to pay him back for leaving her this aroused. Slowly, she pumped him a couple times. He settled his hands on his hips and groaned.

  “Take me in your mouth. I want to feel your tongue on my flesh.”

  Nicola had him in her mouth before he could finish the second sentence. She loved giving oral and she showed it to him. Over and over, he thrust into her mouth. She knew just how to position her throat for him, which brought about another groan.

  “Bloody hell. I’ve been having so many fantasies about this, but none of those were this good.”

  That was all the encouragement she needed. She sped up her movements and soon he was in rhythm with her. Each time she rose to the top of his cock, she would swirl her tongue over his head. Nicola knew she was inching him closer to release and she wanted that. She wanted to feel him explode in her mouth and feel all the cum sliding down her throat.

  Jensen had other plans.

  “Enough of that, Nicola,” he said, but he took his cock in his hand and lifted it. “Suck.”

  Nicola leaned forward to lick and suck his balls. Again, she pushed him, enjoying this part of the play too. He was keeping control of himself, but she knew that with each lick, he was getting closer.

  Before she was really ready to stop, he was pulling away from her again. “Up on the bed, love. I want to see how that pussy of mine feels when I fuck you.”

  She really did like a man who was good at dirty talk. As she pulled down the comforter, then lay on the sheets, he rolled on a condom. He slipped over on top of her, then rose to his knees, grabbed her by the hips and entered her in one hard thrust.

  “Bloody hell, that feels good.”

  He held them there for a long moment. Her sex pulsed around his cock. She closed her eyes and moaned. The sheer pleasure of being connected to him in this way almost overwhelmed her.

  When he slowly pulled out of her, then drove back in, they both moaned together. Again and again, he pushed them further to the edge.

  “Wrap your legs around me, love.”

  With each thrust, the connection between them seemed to grow. Instead of just the thrill of D/s play, this was something more. She wanted to fight against it, but she knew in her head that she couldn’t, not any more. Fear rose up out of nowhere, and she did try to fight it then. She couldn’t let go, not now. It would leave her vulnerable, more so than she had been in years.

  She lost the battle before the war was even started. With him like this, she couldn’t hide away, ignore the feelings she had been battling for months. They rushed forward taking control of everything: her heart, her mind, her soul. The arousal he had built was no longer just for sex, but something more. Something that pierced the shield she had erected years before. Her cheeks felt wet and she realized she was crying. She never cried during sex, but in one session, he brought it out in her.

  He leaned down to kiss her as he continued to move within her. “Come, love. Come with me. Let me feel all those tiny little muscles on my cock.”

  Again, before he could finish telling her, she was already complying with his demands. Her orgasm hit her hard, pulling a scream from her so loud it surprised both of them. He chuckled, then groaned as a second orgasm hit her, her convulsions pulling him deeper inside of her. His movements became more erratic; hurried as if something else was driving him now. Only two more thrusts and he took his release, shouting her name as they both lost themselves to pleasure.

  Jensen woke a short time later, Nicola in his arms, her body pressed against his and it felt so right. There was no other way to describe the way he felt right now. At that moment, he couldn’t even fathom sleeping without her by his side. He traced her spine with his fingers. So strong, but delicate. That summed up Nicola to a T.

  “I’m trying to sleep, buster,” she said, humor lacing her voice. He smiled.

  “I think we established you were going to call me Sir.”

  “Only during play.”

  He smacked her bottom, then rubbed the spot. “I had no idea what a great sub you would be.”

  She lifted up, balancing her weight on her hands. “Really? I excel at everything I do.”

  “Modesty.”

  She rolled her eyes, then dropped down on the mattress. He slipped his arm around her and pulled her close. She settled against his chest with a sigh. “When something is important, I try very hard at it.”

  “What I meant is that I would have pegged you for a Domme, not a sub.”

  She shrugged. “I wanted one place in my life where I didn’t have to be in charge.”

  He absorbed the comment. “Your relationship with Oliver?”

  “Yes?”

  “You were the one in charge?”

  “In the bedroom? Do you really want to talk about that?”


  “Good God, no. I meant, your relationship was tangled up with your skating career. From everything I saw, you were the one in charge of those interviews.”

  She shifted, and he realized she did that so she could see his face. “You watched my interviews?”

  “A few.” All of them he could find, in fact, but he would never admit it. When Nicola had gone on vacation, he’d started his search for them. He told himself that it was for research, which had been a lie. Interviews over a decade old wouldn’t tell him anything about Nicola. It was because he missed her, and now he could admit it to himself.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Nothing.”

  “You just had a look on your face.”

  He shrugged but said nothing. He was coming to the realization that this woman was more to him than simply the average sub. She was in his mind, his head. Fuck, as corny as it sounded, she was in his bloody soul. He was approaching forty and had never really been in love—well other than with heroin when he was still using. That had been his focus for so many years. He had been in like a few times, and definitely in lust, but he was beginning to worry that he was falling in love with Nicola.

  “Jensen, really, you’re freaking me out.”

  He shook his head. “I’m worn out. Seems I have this sub who likes to challenge me.”

  She gave him a blinding smile. “I told you I like to succeed.”

  “I need some rest before round two, so go to sleep.”

  As she settled her weight against him, he stared up at the ceiling. The few days they had left in Hawaii would never be enough. The idea of just walking away now left him slightly ill and frantic.

  It struck him then that she was a bit like his addiction. He worried that she might not be there someday. Now that they had stepped over the line, he wasn’t sure he could ever go back. One thing was for sure: he would do everything in his power to convince her to continue their affair.

  12

  Nicola awoke slowly the next morning. It wasn’t like her. Usually she woke up refreshed and ready to take on the day. When she moved, she groaned. Her muscles were sore. Like a hard workout on the ice sore. She opened her eyes and realized she wasn’t in her room.