by Tara Rose
Last week she hadn’t been able to glance over at the offices of McMurphy Flight without thinking of Scott and Nadine’s betrayal. And since those offices occupied the same acreage as the complex that housed the offices of Cove Cargo, plus the homes she and her family members lived in, she had a constant reminder of what they’d done to her.
But now, within the space of a few days, the two men who had once starred in her most erotic fantasies were suddenly in her life, and in her bed. At least, if what she glimpsed in Merrick’s eyes came to pass, they both would be in her bed. Because if Merrick Durante wasn’t about to seduce her as Tom Raleigh had done less than forty-eight hours ago, she’d eat her margarita glass.
* * * *
Merrick didn’t care that she’d slept with Tom. And he didn’t really want or need to know the details. There was no ring on her finger anymore, and Tom wasn’t here. But he was. And her skin was warm against his. She didn’t pull away her hands, and her beautiful green eyes weren’t filled with anger or disgust. They were full of lust and curiosity. That was good enough for Merrick. He’d waited a long time to see that look directed at him.
“It’s good to know,” he said, “because that means you won’t spill the details of this night to anyone, including Tom.”
“What’s to spill? We’re in a public place having dinner.”
He loved the teasing note in her voice. She wanted him to elaborate on what he meant. Merrick could barely stay still in his seat. His dick was rock hard and if she said ‘no,’ even the porn channel wouldn’t relieve that much of a disappointment. “I mean the details of what we’ll do later. At my place.”
“What will we do?” Her voice came out in a breathy whisper, and it was all he could do to keep from leaping across the table to devour her.
Merrick forced his breathing to slow down. “How much experience do you have with kinky play?”
She blushed—actually blushed. He hadn’t seen a woman do that since high school. It was so endearing that his heart gave an odd little lurch. Slow down, slugger. Take it easy with her. She’s been hurt in a bad way. It was difficult to follow his own advice. Ivy had been the star of every erotic fantasy he’d had since puberty. He could still hardly believe he was here with her, let alone wrap his head around the fact that she was flirting with him.
“I’ve been paddled and spanked,” she said.
Not by Scott. No way. “Tom?”
She nodded. Well, he hadn’t wasted any time. Or had she been curious and asked? “What did you think of it?”
Her eyes went all soft and he thought for a second she was going to crawl on the table, like someone once did in a music video. “I loved it. It was fun, and sexy, and Tom said I went into subspace.”
Wow. He wouldn’t have told her that if she hadn’t done it. He was an experienced Dom, as was Merrick, and he knew Tom would never bullshit a woman about anything like that. “In that case, I’d love to broaden your experiences, if you’ll allow me to do that.”
She frowned slightly. “Does it bother you that I was with him Wednesday night?”
Yes. “No. It’s none of my business. As long as it doesn’t bother you.” Liar.
“That’s very gentlemanly and mature of you. I have a confession to make. I didn’t think you or Tom would be this way.”
He couldn’t help but grin. “You thought we’d be all macho and possessive, right? All of us Durante and Raleigh men are, you know.”
“I’ve made a lot of assumptions over the years.”
“We’ve all done that, Ivy. But let’s cast those off tonight. Let’s enjoy each other’s company. I’ve wanted to be with you for a long time. I was an idiot never to do anything about it before now.”
“Thank you. I feel the same way about you.”
“Really?” He didn’t think she’d lie to him, but he needed to know the absolute truth right now.
“Honestly. I’m not just saying that. But…I do have to say this one thing so it’s out there.”
Uh-oh. “Okay.”
“I used to wish you’d all just walk into the ocean one day.”
Merrick laughed. “If I had a nickel for every person on this island who wished both families would disappear into the Gulf, I wouldn’t have to worry about our books.”
Ivy laughed, too, then returned to her dinner. Merrick watched her pretty face, wondering how in the hell he’d ever let her go after tonight. This was the most honest, open conversation he’d had in a long time, and Merrick prayed it wouldn’t backfire on him.
Chapter Eleven
Ivy didn’t say anything on the ride up the hill in Merrick’s Jeep, but she wasn’t able to hold back a small laugh when she realized he only lived one street over from Tom.
“Did I say something funny?” he asked.
“No.”
“Oh. You noticed that Tom and I live so close.”
“Yes.”
He pulled the Jeep into the garage and opened her door for her, then took her hands. “Ivy, it’s all right. You’re a grown woman. You’ve done nothing out of line, and no one has any claims on you, including me.”
“I know. And thank you for saying so.”
“Nothing has to happen tonight that you don’t want to happen.”
“I know that, too. Thank you.” She hoped more than play would happen. As he led her inside, she glanced around, noticing the differences between his decorating and Tom’s. Merrick’s was more understated and almost stark. The house held an aura suggesting he didn’t spend much time in it, as had Tom’s home.
Both men worked very hard at their jobs and were dedicated to them. That spoke volumes about their characters, but also painted a picture of lonely men. Her heart went out to Merrick. Not only was his family business in financial trouble because of what Owen had done, but they faced future difficulties that could permanently wipe them out. Certainly without Asa’s help they’d go under. But that had to be sticking in Merrick’s craw right now, considering the history between his father and Asa.
And yet, he was as charming and funny as Tom, and she was once again having a fabulous time on her date. It was impossible not to compare both Tom and Merrick with Scott. Their dates had consisted of fast food and movies at home, or drinks at Lady of The Night, followed by sex at home. And she’d never had such easy conversation with Scott as she’d had with Merrick tonight or with Tom two nights ago.
What the hell had she ever seen in Scott McMurphy? Nadine had done her a favor. She must remember to tell her that one day.
Merrick offered her bottled water, which she accepted, and then led her through the house on a quick tour. She thought they’d linger in his bedroom, which looked like something out of a magazine, but instead he took her to the lower level and stopped at a set of double doors. “I have a private dungeon in the house. So, if you weren’t serious about that BDSM play, now is the time to say so.”
“I was serious about it.” Shivers ran up and down her spine at the look of molten lust in his eyes. He was more reserved than Tom had been, but just as intense and seductive. She’d hit the jackpot. Now if she could only hold it together and not blow this.
But then what? No. Not tonight. She wasn’t going to go there. She was going to enjoy this, and then she’d deal with the consequences another time. She’d waited too long to be with each man, and she wasn’t going to let guilt or any other negative emotion ruin tonight for her.
“Then let me show you my dungeon.” He imitated a silly horror movie laugh after speaking, and she giggled. He really was a charmer, and she hadn’t expected that from him or Tom.
Once inside, she had to blink a few times until her eyes became accustomed to the dim light. But once they did, she stepped into the center of the room and twirled slowly, trying to take it all in. He must have every piece of bondage equipment that Phoebe’s Playthings sold in this room. Floggers, paddles, crops, canes, and things she couldn’t identify hung from hooks on one entire wall. There was even a full-sized cage, which compl
etely intrigued her. She walked toward it. “Is this where you keep your prisoners?”
“Only the bad ones.”
Her pussy contracted, and her clit started to throb. “You must not have met any lately because it’s empty.” The cage was constructed of black metal, but the bars were a series of intricate diamonds that were so delicate, she had to blink to realize they weren’t see-through. Ivy touched it. It was definitely made of metal.
“It’s steel,” he said. “And the design is deliberate. If someone is tied to the inside against any of the walls, you can still flog them or paddle them from the outside, and they’ll feel it, along with the impression from the design as the implement strikes it. But it’s smooth, see?”
She ran her hand over the metal.
“That way it won’t catch a flogger or a whip.”
“Is the other side smooth as well?”
“Yes.”
“How intriguing.” Ivy turned around and backed up against it, crossing one ankle over the over. She watched him advance toward her, and just before he reached her, she dropped her bag on the floor so her hands were free.
He placed a hand on each shoulder, and she tried to keep breathing. She’d never seen such an animalistic, raw, erotic look on a man’s face, and it sent shivers up and down her spine. “You’re bad, Ivy.”
“Am I? What did I do wrong?”
“For starters, you wore that dress. Black is my favorite color, and it makes me crazy with lust.” His gaze moved up and down her entire body, and Ivy didn’t even try to bite back the soft moans.
“I didn’t know that.”
“You should have known it. It was bad of you not to find out.” He cupped her face with one strong hand, and the gesture was so dominant that she became dizzy with desire.
“What else did I do wrong?”
“You let another man spank you and paddle you.”
Ah, there it was. He’s jealous. While she loved that he cared enough to be, this could turn into a problem in a very short time. But right now wasn’t the time to seek a solution. Right now, she wanted to know what it was like inside that cage. “I did. That’s true. And I enjoyed it.”
“I know you did.” His other hand brushed her breasts, and Ivy moaned softly. “But you have to be punished for that.”
“I understand.”
He pushed his hand between her legs and cupped her pussy. Ivy groaned out loud as wave after wave of crazy desire danced over her skin. “Sir. Say ‘I understand, Sir.’”
“I understand, Sir,” she whispered.
His thumb grazed her clit through her panties, and she was certain she’d faint any second now. “That’s better, but it won’t get you out of your punishment.” He let go of her pussy and her face, and took several steps back. “Take off the dress.”
His tone of voice reminded her so much of the way Tom had commanded her to strip, that Ivy felt all giddy, just as she had while Tom had paddled her. Would Merrick do the same things to her? She removed the dress and stepped out of it. He took it from her and walked over to the wall, where he pulled a wooden hanger from a shelf and hung up the dress for her. Ivy was touched by his care. Both men were nothing like she’d always imagined they’d be.
When he returned to where she stood, he asked her if she wanted to use the bathroom before they got started. “No. Thank you…Sir. I’m all right.”
“Good girl.” He stepped to within inches of her, and Ivy breathed in the scent of Polo again. From this night on, it would remind her of Merrick and his dungeon. “Did Tom give you a safeword?”
“Red.”
He nodded. “Let’s use that only to stop the scene immediately. Use yellow for anything else. If you need a water break, or are feeling afraid or uncomfortable, or if you need a limb repositioned. All right?”
“Yes, Sir.”
He stepped around the cage and took a set of keys off a hook attached to one of the bars, then unlocked the door and swung it open. He stepped inside, and motioned her over. “If you don’t like it inside here, just say so. It can be a bit overwhelming to actually be inside it.”
She followed him into the cage and glanced around. There were enough attachments on the bars and the floor for just about any cuff, chain, rope, or whatever a Dom’s imagination could conjure up. “Did Phoebe’s Playthings make this?”
“They sell it. It’s made on the mainland.”
“Do they sell a lot of them?”
“A surprising amount, yes. But mostly to clubs. Not so much to individuals.”
She smiled at him, totally unnerved to be standing next to him in nothing but red satin underwear. It was liberating to feel so bold and sexy. “Is there anything they sell that you don’t have down here?”
He shook his head. “How do you feel being in here?”
“I like it, Sir.”
“Did Tom restrain you at all?”
“No. I mean no cuffs or anything like that. Just…just over his knee.”
“Do you trust me to restrain you?”
“Yes, Sir.” Ivy’s heart pounded as she watched him leave the cage and walk toward the wall with everything on it. He returned with a coil of rope, but when he got closer to her she saw that it wasn’t coarse like twine.
“This is special bondage rope. It’s very soft and won’t hurt your skin. Face that wall.”
She did as he asked, facing the wall of the cage that overlooked the dungeon, and then he was behind her. “Give me your arms.” His voice had taken on a different quality. Dominant, but not cruel, persuasive but not fake. It sent more shivers up and down her spine as she put her arms behind her back. He gently bent them at the elbows and then tied her wrists and forearms together. The rope was soft, just as he’d said it would be, and Ivy loved the feeling of being at his mercy.
“Now your ankles. Step apart.”
She moved her legs shoulder-width apart, then watched him kneel at her side. He wrapped the rope around each ankle and then tied it to the bars of the cage.
“You look very sexy in nothing but those shoes and your pretty underwear.” His gaze stayed firmly on her crotch. Surely he could see how wet she was already.
He moved behind her again and wrapped the rope around her waist. “To make sure you’re fully supported.” He attached the other end of that piece to the cage, as well, and then he tested her bonds. “If it feels too tight, use your safeword. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“One last thing.” He placed an oval cushion with an opening large enough for her entire face against the metal in front of her head. “Lean into this and tell me if it’s at the right level.”
She did. “Yes, Sir. It’s good.”
He attached tiny hooks on the edges of the cushion to the cage, and then checked it again. “This will prevent your face from pushing up against the metal, but the rest of you will be in contact with it. So, last chance. Are you sure you’re all right like this?”
“I am. Thank you. I like the feeling.”
“Okay. I’m going to close the door but I won’t lock it. Are you okay with that?”
“Yes, Sir.”
He stepped outside, and when the door clicked shut, Ivy closed her eyes and let the emotions wash over her. The metallic sound was so final, and yet it also reminded her that she was about to experience something erotic and unique. She hadn’t perused the Phoebe’s Playthings website enough to know all their merchandise. If she’d seen this cage before, it would have become part of her fantasies.
Merrick took off his shoes and socks, and again Ivy thought his bare feet were very sexy, just as Tom’s had been. He walked over to the wall again and took his time. She suspected he was doing it on purpose, and it worked. Her pussy was soaked now, and all she could think about was having his hands on her, and his dick inside her.
When he finally approached the cage again, he held two floggers in his hands. One had thin falls and the other thick. He stood in front of her, his gaze slowly traveling up and down her body,
and a slight smile on his face. Then he placed the floggers on a nearby table, unbuttoned his cuffs, and pushed up his shirt sleeves. She moaned at the gesture.
When he picked up the thick flogger, he smiled, and Ivy nearly passed out from anticipation. Her life was about to change once again, and she welcomed it.
Chapter Twelve
Ivy thought he was going to strike her with the flogger, but all he did was brush the falls up and down her breasts. She felt them through the cage, and pressed closer, but then realized by doing so she also pushed the metal design into her skin. What an ingenious invention.
When he threw it for real, it didn’t hurt, but she definitely felt it because of the metal. His throws were easy and almost lazy at first, striking her across the nipples and then the pussy. Because he couldn’t reach between her legs with it, it only grazed her pussy and lower abdomen, the effect was still the same.
Soon, she really felt the design in the metal, but it didn’t pinch like she’d assumed it might. The sensation, coupled with the massage-like quality of the thick flogger falls, soon had her experiencing the same peace that had washed over her Wednesday night. She closed her eyes and tested her bonds, but they held her firmly in place. She was completely at his mercy, and that added to her arousal.
When he switched to the flogger with the thin falls, she opened her eyes and cried out. They stung like crazy, and enhanced the feel of the metal designs pressing against her skin.
“What color are you, Ivy? Use green if you’re all right and want me to continue.”
“I’m green, Sir. Just surprised.”
He held up the flogger. “It’s rubber. Not what I normally use for a beginner, but I wanted to see how you did with it.”
“Thank you,” she whispered. She didn’t understand why, but him saying he was using a flogger on her reserved for more experienced subs gave her a warm, toasty feeling inside. It made her feel like she belonged there and wasn’t merely playing around. She’d never expected this rush of emotion. The need to please him and feel as if she were truly part of the BDSM community loomed large in her mind. It was like a rite of passage, or a challenge she’d successfully passed.
