Surrender

  One minute she’d been dancing with a stranger, then the next she’d been in Rafe’s arms – right where she’d pictured being all night. He’d swept her across the dance floor, turning her excited body on in ways none of the other men could come close to being able to do.

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  Oh, the things she’d said to him. It was bad – so very bad. She’d practically begged him to make-love to her. Okay, if I can sneak away successfully, I’ll never drink again, she promised.

  Very carefully, she slithered from beneath the covers and started edging herself off the bed. She started to smile as her feet touched the ground. She was almost there. Just as she started to stand, his voice stopped her.

  “Where are you off to, Ari? I’ve been waiting for hours for you to wake. ”

  Oh crap! Deal’s off. I’m having a drink right now, she thought.

  “I have to use the bathroom,” she said as she rose to her feet and rushed across the room. She thankfully entered the right door, and found herself in his large bathroom and not his closet. Feeling trapped, she took her time, washed her face, guzzled some water, and used his facilities.

  Though she didn’t give it much of a chance, she was hoping he was fast asleep as she turned the doorknob. Miracles could happen. When she opened the door and the bedside lamp was on, she knew he wasn’t sleeping.

  “That took a while. I hope everything’s okay. ”

  How rude was that? Was she on a time schedule now? It didn’t matter. She was going to be rational, not get into another sparring match with him that she was sure to lose.

  “Um… well, thanks for the ride, but I need to be going now. I was a little drunk last night and said some things that I didn’t really mean. You know how that goes. See ya,” she muttered as she made an attempt to reach his bedroom door. He was there to block her path before she made it three steps.

  “Why in such a hurry? We made plans before you passed out on me. I like my women willing and supple, but not morbidly still. ”

  “Look, I just said that I didn’t really mean any of it. I don’t want to stay, so I’ll be leaving now,” she said with false bravado. She was lying and they both knew it. She did want to stay. She was tired of fighting him.

  It didn’t matter, though. They could come together like this a thousand times, but the bottom line was that she couldn’t be the woman he wanted her to be. She decided the only way to get out of this situation with him for good was to piss him off so badly, he wouldn’t want to look at her face ever again.

  “You meant it, Ari, every last word you spoke on that dance floor. ”

  “You know what, Mr. Palazzo? I’ll tell you. I think you’re a pig. I think you just want everything you can’t have. Because I’ve told you that you can’t have me, it’s been your new mission to acquire me like any of your other possessions. I’m not for sale. I’m not your new shiny toy, and I think you’re actually kind of pathetic. Deal with the fact that this is one game you can’t win. ”

  Ari was proud of the strong tone of her voice. She was facing a giant, and appeared to be winning. Ha, she’d go fight Goliath next. The slight flaring of his eyes as she used his last name again caused a tremor of fear, but she pushed that down.

  “Do you want to know why I always win? I always win because I hold all the cards. I never go into anything without a guaranteed outcome. I’ve let you think you have a choice in all of this, but there’s never been a choice. The only decision you’ve actually had was in controlling the time-frame. Even that has been relative. My patience has grown thin. It’s time for you to accept that you’re mine. ”

  “You’re so used to everyone jumping to do whatever you want that you don’t even see what a tyrant you are. Does this kind of talk motivate people? Do you really think that you command respect? Fear and respect are two very different things, and you may inspire fear in those around you, but none of your people respect you. ”

  “I could disagree with you, but I don’t care enough to do so. I’ve tired of your self-righteousness, Ari. Why don’t you just concede defeat and show me the appreciation that I deserve. I’ve saved you now on more than one occasion. You need to show your gratefulness to me. A good start would be you dropping to your knees and demonstrating your loyalty,” he said with a smirk.

  Fire burned in Ari’s stomach. Never before had she wanted so badly to hit a person. She stepped closer to him, ready to show him exactly what she thought of his idea of controlling her.

  “Undo my pants,” he commanded. She froze at the arrogance seeping from him. Did he honestly think she was about to satisfy him? Maybe he was actually crazy. Without her permission, her arm rose and then the only sound that could be heard in the dark room was the sharp tone of skin slapping skin as her hand connected with his chiseled jaw.

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  His eyes widened as he raised his hand, his fingers gliding over his jaw. The look on his face could only be described as incredulous.

  “I must say I wasn’t expecting that. You are quite full of surprises,” he murmured as he flexed his jaw. She didn’t know how to respond as she hadn’t expected to do that.

  “I’m leaving now,” she finally gasped as she turned to run away.

  “Oh, you’re not going anywhere, Ari. You’ve asked me about punishment before. Well, you’ll find out about it right now. ”

  Ari screamed as he quickly picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. Fear, and yet a strange excitement, overtook her body as his hand came up and smacked her on the ass.

  “Stop wiggling. The more you fight me, the more intense your punishment will be,” Rafe said with excitement running through his voice. When he stopped to pick up a few silk ties, Ari’s eyes rounded with nerves. What was he planning on doing to her?

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Ari’s stomach trembled as Rafe set her down on the cold tile floor. She immediately tugged against his hold on her arm, but she wasn’t going anywhere.

  “Rafe, stop. This is insane. We both said some things, did some stuff. All’s forgiven. Let’s just pretend this never happened,” she pleaded with him as he turned a knob inside the shower and a forceful jet of water began flowing.

  “Too late, Ari. You did two things wrong. Calling me by my first name now doesn’t help you. ”

  “Fine, how about I call you, ass**le, or demon spawn!”

  “You’re not helping,” he said, an obvious smile in his voice. He was enjoying himself.

  He picked her back up, and though she struggled against him, it made zero difference. He far out-powered her. Much too quickly, he had her hands secured together and then the soft sash he’d grabbed was holding her prisoner against the wall of the shower. He’d tied it to what looked like a bar on his shower wall.

  Water cascaded over her still clothed body as he stepped back and stripped off his own clothes. She couldn’t turn her gaze away as he stepped inside the large space and his growing erection brushed against her hip.

  “You fight this the whole way, but your body doesn’t lie, Ari. That’s unadulterated desire burning in your eyes. The pinch in your ni**les is them reaching out for me to take hold of them. The wet heat dripping from your body is you preparing for me to slam myself deep inside you. You’re ready for this – for me. Let yourself go,” he whispered as his thick staff leapt against her hip.

  She shook her head, refusing to cave. She couldn’t give him all the power. He’d never stop drinking from her if she did.

  “Time for you to learn why it’s not a good idea to defy me,” he whispered next to her ear before he took the lobe between his teeth and softly bit down.

  Shudders racked her body as his mouth traveled down her neck. So far she really wasn’t seeing a negative to defying him. If it ended like this, maybe she should be calling him names more often.

  Suddenly his mouth was gone and then she was hearing a ripping sound as he
tore the shirt she was wearing. He tossed the saturated material to the back of the shower as he ripped off her panties next, leaving her na**d and trapped before him.

  She moved forward, scooting to the wall as his hands reached for her ankles. Soon, her feet were spread apart and he had them secured, effectively trapping her with her body wide open to him.

  “You think pain comes in just one form, Ari?”

  “Yes,” she trembled.

  “You’d be wrong. You see, I’ve learned how to get what I want without beating a woman. I’ve learned how to gain control without being, what was it you’ve called me – Satan. I know I can hurt you if I want. I’m obviously bigger – stronger. There are many forms of torture in the world. ”

  “What are you going to do?” she asked as he circled around her. The trepidation of the unknown was worse than if he were to just get it over with.

  “Do you like how your body feels as it builds up to an earth shattering orgasm? What about the feeling as you glide over that edge into sweet bliss? Does that make you tremble, Ari? Can you feel your body growing hotter – wetter – tighter?” he asked as his hand slid down the curve of her hip, then slid around and glided inside her.

  “Rafe…” she groaned.

  “What, Ari?”

  “Please. I was wrong. I want to have sex with you,” she pleaded.

  “We will, Ari, but you don’t get to cum. ”

  “What?” she gasped as his finger moved in and out of her. She couldn’t understand what he was saying. She strained to take his fingers deeper, but he pulled out, leaving her panting.

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  Rafe grabbed the shower head and started moving it across her body, the pulsing stream of water massaging her, building up her heat. He ran the jets across her protruding ni**les, the sensation more intense than if he were sucking them into his mouth.

  “Ohh, please,” she groaned as he moved the strong jet down her torso and over her swollen core. As the water caressed her most sensitive area, she felt her orgasm building, felt release nearing. She strained to keep quiet, not wanting to alert him to how close she was.

  “Do you think that will work, Ari? I can read your body. I can feel everything through your tense muscles,” he whispered as he pulled the spray away and moved it around her back.

  He continued massaging her body with the water, running the flow across every sensitive area she had until she was in tears. The agony of not feeling release was worse than anything she could imagine.

  “Please, Rafe. I’ll do anything,” she cried. She needed him to take her over the edge.

  He placed the nozzle down as he pressed up behind her, his thick, pulsing staff resting on the crack of her butt. Grinding his h*ps against her, she tried to wiggle her butt, tried to tip her body so he’d slip down and slide deep inside her core.

  “Not yet, Ari. This isn’t about your pleasure, it’s about mine. You told me you don’t want this. You keep saying no. Well then, you don’t get to feel satisfaction. When you say yes, I’ll make you scream with pleasure,” he promised as the head of his erection slid an inch inside her.

  “I said yes,” she cried.

  “Not just yes for right now, Ari, yes for good. ”

  “No,” she moaned. She wouldn’t give him that, even if she ended up expiring from frustration.

  “Too bad for you,” he said as he sunk into her. Oh, that’s what she wanted. Yes! He felt so good, filled her so perfectly. She could dance with him like this for hours. He slid in and out several times, once again building her toward the edge of oblivion, then before she could reach her peak, he pulled out.

  “No,” she screamed, anger overtaking her at this game he was playing. He walked around the front of her, water still streaming over both of them as he untied her hands. Then, leaning against the wall, he pulled her forward and brought her head to his erection.

  Without much thought, she did as he bid, pulled him inside her mouth as she tasted his pleasure. She’d never before desired to suck a man, never thought she could enjoy the taste, but as her body burned with unfulfilled need, she devoured him, taking him deeper with each bob of her head.

  “Yes, Ari, like that, yes!” he cried as his fingers tugged through her hair, holding her in place as his h*ps thrust forward. She couldn’t take him all in, but her greed to taste him made her attempt to. She wanted him deep in her throat, wanted to feel his warm pleasure slide down, know she’d sent him over the edge.

  She was so close to her own completion. The burning inside her body made her movements faster as she rose up and down his staff.

  “That’s it. Yes!” he called out as she felt warm liquid hit her throat. His staff pulsed in her mouth as he poured himself across her tongue. She sucked greedily on the head of his erection as he began pulling out, not wanting to release him. His cries of pleasure echoed through the shower.

  Her body was throbbing as he pulled from her mouth and began untying her legs. Now, the torture was over. Now, it was her turn. She reached for him as her restraints were undone.

  “Please, Rafe, please,” she begged as he stepped back.

  “No, Ari. That’s your punishment. You get to burn all night. You don’t get to feel the pleasure of release. ”

  When Ari realized he was serious, she looked him in the eye as her hand moved down her body and she reached for the place that was pulsing with need. A few strokes and she could relieve the ache herself. There was no way she was going to leave her body aching like this.

  “Ah, ah, ah,” Rafe scolded as he snagged her hand. “I wouldn’t make a very good monster, would I, if I allowed you to be satisfied,” he mocked as he carried her from the bathroom.

  “Let’s see what we can do about this?” he laid her wet na**d body on the bed, then quickly tied her hands back together and secured them to the headboard.

  “You can’t do this. It’s kidnapping,” she screamed when he moved about the room.

  “You told me yes in the shower, Ari,” he reminded her.

  “I’ve changed my mind. I want to leave now. ”

  “Too bad. Don’t cross me again, and we won’t go through this. ”

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  “You won’t have to worry about that as I plan on never seeing you again after tonight. ” Though she knew it was useless, she struggled against her ties.

  Rafe walked from the room and Ari’s breathing was ragged as she glared at the door. When he didn’t return after several minutes, she began to panic. Was he really planning on leaving her like this for the rest of the night?

  She didn’t know how long she lay there struggling against the restraints as her body burned, but soon the door opened again. She glared at him as he walked in. She wouldn’t beg him anymore that night.

  He said nothing as he came over and covered her up, then turned off the lamp and walked from the room again. Eventually, sweet oblivion came over her, and she managed to fall to sleep. Her last thought was of sweet revenge against Rafe.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  In the early dawn light, Rafe walked back into his room and found Ari moving on the bed, her sleeping form trying to find comfort. He’d left her for a couple hours, wanting to punish her, needing to reprimand her for her behavior.

  Knowing she was so close, knowing she’d welcome the thrust of his hardening staff inside her heat made it impossible for him to stay away any longer. He could once again pleasure himself without giving her satisfaction, but he didn’t enjoy the orgasm nearly as much.

  He stripped off his robe as he made his way to the bed and slipped the covers down so he could admire the full softness of her beautiful br**sts.

  His fingers glided over her ni**les, which instantly hardened beneath his touch. With just that light touch, his manhood stood up fully, ready to plunge deep inside her. He opened the nightstand and sheathed himself before pulling the blankets the rest
of the way off her gloriously na**d body.

  Spreading her thighs, he moved his head between her legs and woke her up as his mouth encircled her flesh.

  “Oh, yes,” she cried, her aroused body instantly waking, seeking the orgasm he’d withheld from her earlier. “Please don’t stop,” she sobbed. “Please…”

  She struggled against the ropes as his tongue swirled around her flesh. When he brought her right to the edge, he pulled back, making her scream in frustration.

  He climbed up her body and gripped her head with his hands as his h*ps thrust forward and he buried himself inside her hot folds with one precise thrust.

  Her cry of pleasure echoed in his mouth as one hand moved down to her hip and he gripped her, holding her securely in place so he could plunge quickly in and out.

  He felt her walls convulse around him as she reached her peak, her scream filling the room as she tumbled over the edge. With a deep thrust, he buried himself so deeply he didn’t know if there was a single place on their bodies not connected together.

  A cry ripped from him as her body gripped him, pulling every bit of pleasure from him one pulse at a time. For the briefest of seconds, his hand caressed her flushed cheek and their eyes connected. Hers were dreamy and satisfied, sucking him into their gaze. He started to bend forward to softly kiss her lips when he stopped himself.

  As her eyes closed and she drifted back to sleep, Rafe jumped from the bed. He was getting too attached, turning the sex into something it wasn’t. He didn’t believe in making love. It was sex – just sex.

  He paced for several moments before he made his decision. He never let his mistresses stay with him. It was a solid rule. Because he wanted to break that rule with Ari, he forced himself to call his driver.

  *****

  “Ari, time to go. ”

  Ari struggled to open her eyes. She was foggy as she drifted between wakefulness and sleep. Rafe? It sounded like him.

  “Ari, you need to wake up. Your ride is here. ”

  Finally, Ari managed to get her eyes to open. She stretched her body and realized it was sore. As her foggy brain processed the moment, the night flooded back with the force of a tornado – the club, shower, and then the bed.