“You can,” I answered. I was careful not to say more than that. I would delete the picture as I said, but not right away. I’d just wait until I was secure in the knowledge that he wouldn’t turn out to be a...well, a raving psycho. A friend of mine had gotten in trouble once because she'd gone to a hotel with a man she thought was nice. He stalked her for two months before the police were able to find something to arrest him for. That’s why I was cautious.

  “Noted.” His eyes slid to the bed and back to me again. “Safety concerns? Limits?”

  “You will wear a condom. For everything. If you try to do anything without one, this all stops.”

  “That’s a rule of mine as well.” Arik took another step toward me, absently raking a hand through carelessly tousled hair. The lighting in here was better than it had been in the club and I could see a that his hair was a rich, dark red.

  Damn.

  I wanted to tangle my hands in those dark, silken strands as he kissed me again.

  I wanted his hands in my hair.

  “I don’t do humiliation.” My voice was ragged, raspy now. I had to force myself to focus on the common sense things that had to come first. Ground rules. Had to set up the ground rules. “I enjoy submitting from time to time, but I'm not looking to be somebody’s slave or toy. Not even for a night. I don’t call anybody master.”

  His voice was low, sliding over my skin like silk.

  “I think we’re on the same page, Dena. Of course, I’m the one who’s looking for your submission, not the other way around.” His eyes narrowed thoughtfully and his tone changed. “From time to time?”

  “From time to time.” I didn’t elaborate further, and I raised an eyebrow almost in challenge.

  “Anything else?”

  “No toys,” I said, my brain struggling to recall the things I normally said. “I don't play with things I don't know.”

  That hot, sexy smile curled his lips once more, and he nodded as he came to me. For a moment, he simply stood, towering over me by more than a foot. Then, he slid his hands into my hair. That action alone fired a dozen fantasies, and as they came simmering to life, I had to fight to keep from trembling.

  “What’s your safe word?” He brushed his thumb over my mouth.

  “Uncle.” The word breathed out of me as my skin sang from his touch.

  Arik’s brow winged up. “Uncle?”

  I gave him a sharp smile. “When I was first getting into the lifestyle, there was this guy. I was still fairly ignorant, and not all that good at picking my partners. He was one of the first. I hadn’t yet figured out what I needed, and he was convinced he knew. Told me he’d have me crying uncle in no time flat.” My smile flattened. “He was crying after I nearly ripped his balls off because he didn't stop.”

  Arik's eyes widened slightly, but he didn't move away from me.

  “I picked uncle as my safe word after that to remind me.” I bit off the rest of what I was going to say. That it was this word, no matter how caught up I got, that reminded me to always take measures to make sure I was safe.

  Arik's fingertips brushed across my cheekbone, before trailing down my cheek. His voice was rough as he murmured, “I think it takes a certain kind of man to top a woman like you, Dena.” His touch lingered for a moment, and then he straightened. “Fortunately, I think I’m up to the task.”

  I really hoped so.

  He shrugged his jacket from his shoulders, then watched me as he moved on to his shirt, exposing a broad, muscled chest. When he was done, he pulled out his wallet and tucked it into his jacket, then gathered up the garments and carried them to the closet, hanging them inside. The open door obscured him for a brief moment and when he reappeared, he had removed his shoes. Inside my boots, my toes curled. He shouldn't be allowed to be so fucking hot, standing there in only his well-tailored slacks.

  He came back toward me, and I saw a flash of silver in his hand. Condoms. At least I didn't have to dig them out of my purse. He put them on the bed next to me and then turned away again. I didn’t speak as he looked around the room. I had some idea of what he was doing, and when he disappeared into the bathroom for a moment, I wasn’t surprised when he returned carrying a couple of long strips of cloth in his hand.

  The belts from the hotel robes.

  “Any problem with being bound?” He stood in front of me again, his voice dropping to that low, sexy sound that sent another blast of lust through me.

  My pussy throbbed at the thought. Sometimes, bondage was about testing limits, stretching endurance, but for me, it was about everything I wanted out of tonight.

  I shook my head as I peered up from under my lashes, knowing there was no way to hide the anticipation curling inside me. I was rarely one to be submissive enough to keep my eyes down, but something about Arik spoke to that primal part of me that few men had ever managed to reach.

  “No problems with being bound.”

  “Good. Now, I’m going to have you suck my cock.” Arik delivered this statement in a level voice, as though we were discussing the weather.

  It made me shudder how matter-of-fact he said it. I nodded, waiting for my next instruction.

  “Open one of the condoms.”

  I did so, pleased to see I was able to keep my hands steady even though everything inside me was starting to quake. I knelt in front of him, taking a moment to look up at those gorgeous emerald-colored eyes again before dropping my gaze again. I couldn't stop the shiver though as he freed his belt and slowly dragged down his zipper. I was definitely getting a lesson in anticipation as he removed his pants and underwear, tossing them aside before straightening to reveal a thick, heavy shaft that made my mouth water just looking at it.

  “Put it on.” Still that calm, almost cool voice.

  I wanted him to control me, but it would be nice to hear him struggling to control himself...because of me.

  As I rolled the cool latex over him, he continued to speak.

  “I don't think I'll have you take off that dress. Or those boots. I might even keep your panties on.” His eyes gleamed. “What are you wearing under there? A thong? Boy shorts? A bikini?”

  I swallowed hard. “Boy shorts.”

  “Would you like it that way, Dena?” He brushed his fingers across my hairline. “Would you like it if I fucked you while you were wearing your clothes? If I just pulled your panties aside and took you that way?”

  A rush of heat and wetness escaped me, dampening the soft cotton of my panties as I made sure the condom was on snuggly, lingering a bit longer than I needed to. He just felt so good pulsing under my hand, long and hot. I pressed my thumb against the vein on the underside. His harsh intake of breath was the only reaction he gave, but at least it was something.

  He wasn't completely indifferent after all.

  I closed my hand around the broad base of him and lifted my eyes to his. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  His eyes darkened. “Did I tell you that you could touch me yet?”

  Shaking my head without looking away, I tightened my grip on his cock.

  “Why are you doing it?” He sounded honestly curious.

  I gave him the truth. “Maybe because I want to see what you do.” Squeezing, I began to drag my hand up, then down, wishing I could feel skin instead.

  “Dena.” His voice was chastising, but that didn’t stop me from leaning forward. Suddenly, he took a step back. “Stand up.” The words were a growl.

  My legs were shaky as I stood.

  “Turn around.”

  I did it, anticipating his reaction.

  Except Arik didn’t do what I thought he would. Instead, he did something better. He used one of the belts to loop through my elbows, effectively restraining me. I could still move my hands to some extent, and if I tried, I could get free. I appreciated the thought behind it. I’d often done the same thing with the subs I met. It was a safety net of sorts. Security but also an escape if needed.

  He turned me back around and took my shoulders,
maneuvering me back until I was sitting on the bed again. He studied my face and I watched as several different expressions crossed his eyes.

  “You want to be punished,” he said quietly.

  I caught my breath. He did understand. For me, it was all about giving over that control, and that was a part of it.

  He brushed a lock of hair back. “You’ll get what you need later, but for now, you’re going to suck my cock. And the better you do, the more inclined I will be to take good care of you.”

  The words sent a shiver of longing through me, and again I tightened my thighs against the ache pulsing in my cunt.

  His hands threaded through my short hair.

  Breath hitching in anticipation, I let him tug me forward, guiding me toward his cock. Although I knew it was necessary, a part of me resented the latex barrier between us, the taste of it against my lips as I slowly took him into my mouth. A wild part of me wished that, at some point, I'd be able to find out how he tasted for real.

  I slid almost halfway and then pulled back up. He tried to nudge the head deeper, but for now, this was my show. I let it fall from between my lips before taking him in again, deeper this time.

  After a few more teasing movements, a harsh growl escaped him and he widened his stance, hands tightening on my hair as he began to pump against the rhythm I’d established.

  I had taken a little more than half of him now, lips stretched wide around his wide shaft, the tip butting up against the back of my throat. His hand slid around to the back of my head, gripping me firmly as the other went to his cock, marking my limit.

  “How much can you take?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  He pulled back enough for me to answer. I knew what my answer would mean, knew what he wanted. I wanted it too.

  “I can take whatever you can give me.”

  I caught a flicker of something and then his fingers tightened in my hair.

  “More,” he growled, his hips surging and driving his cock in a fast pace that stole my breath.

  I pushed against his hand, trying to slow things, control the pace. The need to touch him rode me hard, but when I tried to lift a hand, I couldn’t. Groaning in frustration, I scraped my teeth across the sensitive underside.

  He grunted, his hips jerking. “Suck me, Dena.”

  Instead, I tried to use my tongue to tease him.

  He gripped my hair and pulled sharply. “Suck.”

  I did.

  Hard.

  He yanked me back, his eyes narrowing with a heated gaze.

  “You told me to do a good job.” I licked my lips and lowered my eyes to his cock. “Am I doing a good job?”

  “Open that smart mouth, Dena, and I'll show you how to do a good job.”

  He guided it back to my mouth and slowly slid inside. This time, the grip on my hair was so tight, I couldn’t move at all. Then a hand moved down to grip my jaw in a way that took the last of my control. Need clamored inside as he began to slowly and thoroughly fuck my mouth. The first thrust took him to the back of my throat and he held there for a long second.

  “Swallow me.”

  Fuck.

  I nearly gagged before my throat relaxed enough to obey, but I didn't struggle. I knew I could take it. The hand in my hair tightened and I heard him mutter something in a harsh growl as he slipped down my throat. That calm composure was gone.

  I intended to use the tricks I'd learned from some very experienced subs to make him completely lose it.

  I swallowed, hummed, used everything I knew until I felt a shudder go through him.

  At that moment, he seemed to grab some control back. Part of me hated to give it back, at least until he pulled away, caught me under the elbows, and pulled me to my feet. He bent his head and I thought he was going to kiss me. Instead, he pressed his lips underneath my ear, a soft gentle kiss that belied the urgency from just a few moments ago.

  “I have a feeling you like to push your limits, don’t you, Dena?” he asked.

  “I push the limits other people set for me,” I answered, surprised at how casual I sounded.

  “Let’s see if we can expand those limits a little.”

  Less than five minutes later, he'd come up with a very inventive way to use the belts. I was bent facedown over the padded, plush ottoman, still completely clothed, but also completely helpless. The utter deliciousness of it left me feeling like I might explode at any minute. But explode in a good way.

  For so many months, I'd felt like a caged animal, unable to escape the restlessness inside me. But now that I was now effectively restrained, I felt freer than I had in a very long time. It might not have made sense to a lot of people, but some of us were just wired that way.

  And Arik understood that.

  He knelt behind me, one hand fisted in the material of my panties and I shivered as he tugged, dragging the boy shorts upward. The garment rasped over my clitoris, rubbed against the slick folds of my pussy, and the cleft between the cheeks of my ass.

  I moaned as he slid his free hand over my ass, the touch light and teasing. “I think it's time to punish you. How do you want it?”

  I shivered, shaking my head. My entire body was quivering with need. It felt like everything I'd had building inside me for months was coming together all at once.

  “Tell me, Dena. Tell me what you need.”

  I whimpered, lust clenching almost violently inside me as he spread his hand wide over my butt.

  “Spank me,” I said. I was half afraid he wouldn’t do it. Half-afraid he would.

  “Is that what you need?”

  “Yes.” It was halfway between a demand and a plea.

  “If I spank you, will you be a good girl?” He kept his hand on my ass for a few more seconds.

  I didn’t even know how to respond to that question. Even though I had a deep need to have a man take control from time to time, I could never be a “good” submissive, a good girl. I sometimes fought the men who topped me, made them work for the submission they wanted. I never gave in completely, not the way most submissives did.

  “You might be able to talk me into it,” I finally said, need making my voice shake. “But I’m never very good at being good.”

  He chuckled, a dark sound that I liked...a lot.

  “But I'm sure you’re excellent at being bad, aren’t you?”

  Without waiting for an answer, he brought the flat of his hand down on the curve of my ass. It was a light blow, too light and I made a sound of sheer frustration. He repeated the gesture on the other side, equally as light. I moved as best as I could, trying to lift myself higher.

  “Be still,” he ordered. He shoved a hand into my hair. He pulled sharply, and hot little licks of fire radiated from my scalp. I whimpered in appreciation. I didn't get off on serious pain. But I did like that.

  “Be still,” he growled. “Or this stops, and you’ll go back to sucking my cock until I come. I might even stand right over there where you can see me, get myself off until I come, and you’ll just have to watch me.”

  The image of him masturbating while I watched was enough to make my heart skip a beat, but his next words did it for a different reason.

  “Then, I’ll order myself up a drink, and relax a bit while you stay here, and think about whether or not you’re going to obey.”

  A harsh jolt went through my pussy at the thought, even as a snarl twisted my lips. I almost told him to try it.

  But then he spanked me again. Harder.

  Oh shit.

  I didn’t move. As much as I wanted to lift myself, arch my spine, do something, I fought the need and put everything I had into not moving. Into obeying.

  Submitting.

  Arik fell into a rhythm, each swat on my ass coming with a little more force. I began to cry out, need twisting through me as moisture gathered between my thighs.

  He pulled on my panties again, the material tightening almost painfully against my clit.

  There was a pause, and then he leaned over me
, putting his lips against my ear.

  “See...you can be good, Dena, can’t you?”

  The noise that came from my throat was low and wordless. But it was apparently close enough. The head of his cock prodded against me, rubbing me through the barrier of my panties. Then I felt his fingers, roughly pulling the panties to the side, exposing me. Arik’s palm came down harder on my ass, more force than I was used to, right as he drove inside me, burying himself balls deep in that single thrust

  It sent me screaming into the best orgasm I’d ever had.

  But it wasn't over.

  Even as I was still coming, he kept moving, driving straight toward another peak, riding me hard and rough, each thrust so forceful, we would've slid across the floor if he hadn’t anchored me with one strong arm around my hips, the other fisted in my hair and arching my spine up.

  “You’re right,” he spoke in my ear, his voice harsh. “You’re not very good at being good, Dena. But damn if you aren’t excellent at being bad.”

  I shuddered under the impact of his thrusts, squirming and trying to find...something. I didn't know if I was looking for a release, or a reprieve, from the inexorable, dominating possession.

  “Come,” he ordered. “Come for me, Dena. And maybe this time, I’ll reward you for being bad. Would you like that?”

  I groaned in response, every nerve in my body on fire.

  “That’s no answer.”

  “Ye–” I could barely speak. “Yes, dammit. Make me come, you son of a bitch.”

  He let go of my hair and worked a hand between me and the ottoman, unerringly seeking out my clitoris. Slow, deliberate strokes, and I was flying into another bone-melting orgasm.

  I thought that first orgasm had been the best of my life. I was wrong.

  Chapter 9

  Arik

  Dena wasn’t what I would've called beautiful. She was delicate and elfin, almost cute, but I had a feeling she’d have words with any person who used that word to describe her. Or maybe cut their balls off.

  She was also the most amazing woman I’d ever dominated. Drawing each small submission from her had been like winning a battle, and it had made everything that much more erotic.