His Mistress apparently only wanted him uncomfortable in the right ways, however. The mattress dipped as she put a knee onto it. The phallus strapped to her bobbed against his cheek. He could smell her pussy and it eased his tension to know how aroused she was already. As soon as she slid pillows beneath his head he exhaled, the strain on his neck and back muscles easing.
Other things didn't ease, however. If she'd bound his arms above his head, he would have felt less vulnerable, but now here he was. Every muscle in his body was strained from the awkward position, his ass canted up.
One slim finger traced the seam of his mouth, drawing him out of his head. "I gave a lot of thought to how I would do this. I saw pictures of stallions, like your Midnight--"
'Gelding," he corrected in a hoarse voice.
"Excuse me?"
"Midnight is a gelding. That means he's been castrated."
"Well, you can be sure that won't be happening here."
"Damn straight on that."
She chuckled. "As I was explaining, I saw horses restrained for grooming and other things. I thought about putting a halter on you and I may do that one of these days. Stand you up and secure the halter with two ropes. Stretch out your arms and legs. I would have done it tonight, right there in the barn, but I wasn't sure you wanted to put on a show for any of your hands who might be around."
He snorted. "Damn straight about that too."
She kissed his cheek. "My purpose is not to humiliate you, cowboy. Whatever I order you to do is for my pleasure and to ensure you know who is in charge."
"I always know that. Now." He did, tough as it might be sometime. But he had totally lost the ability or desire to argue with her or object to whatever she might want, at least right now.
"Open your mouth, Quinn, and bite down. I've gagged my bed partners before, but I thought you would prefer something more, well, cowboy."
"What bed partners?"
"Casual things, subs for the night in clubs and things like that. No one like you. No one I wanted to keep."
That mollified him, even as other things did a slow flip in his stomach. He felt the cool metal of the bit press against his lips and realized she'd been cleaning it in the bathroom for this. Though he insisted on his men cleaning their tack as thoroughly as if they might eat off it, he appreciated her consideration.
As it stretched his mouth, making his balls tighten and cock leak onto the bed, she tied the leather laces from each end behind his head with the blindfold knot.
She trailed her tongue over his parted lips, first the top then the bottom. "I think we're ready."
The mattress shifted as she slid off and her fingers followed the outline of his extended arm and bent leg as she moved to the foot of the bed. Some kind of rough material slid beneath his widespread legs.
"A towel," she explained. "We want to protect these nice bedclothes."
As her fingers slipped between his thighs to capture his cock, stroking it lightly from root to tip, he prayed that he could last as long as she wanted him to.
"What is it you wish to do more than anything, Quinn?" Her voice had a sultry lilt to it. "Speak aloud. I love hearing you try to talk around the bit."
"Give my Mistress pleasure," he managed. "Always my Mistress."
"Very good." Her grip on his cock tightened and her strokes grew bolder. "Perhaps I should make you come like this and wait until later to take your ass. Leave you like this for a while."
Jesus. Fuck. Damn.
He ground his teeth.
I heard that, but I won't punish you. Not this time. Take a deep breath and let it out.
As he did so, her hands separated the cheeks of his ass and the tip of the strap-on pressed against his opening. With the added lube, it slid smoothly against his flesh.
"More deep breaths," she instructed.
He drew in another one, eased it out and closed his teeth down on the bit as she pushed the dildo into his rectum, one inch at a time. He found the breathing helped him to relax, at least as much as was possible considering the phallus invading his ass. His sphincter muscle clamped against the intrusion but Selene reached beneath him for his balls again and caressed them. The stimulation and the breathing made his body ease its resistance and the strap-on penetrated farther.
With one hand on a buttock cheek and the other still fondling him, she pressed forward. The muscle released and the dildo slid farther into his rectum until at last it was all the way in. Jesus God. He'd never felt anything like it. She withdrew and eased back, then pushed forward again. The rhythm she set was driving his body toward a climax yet was barely enough to get him there.
Selene moved her hand to his cock, her touch sending powerful electricity sizzling through him. He knew he was hard enough to drive fence posts and his balls ached with need. Splayed out as he was, he had no power to control the movements of his body and he yanked at the ropes restraining him in frustration.
"Easy," she soothed. "I don't want to rush this."
Yes, rush it, he wanted to tell her. The smooth glide in and out of his ass lit up the nerves in that sensitive skin, especially each time it dragged over that sensitive gland. He had never imagined he'd enjoy something like this but the dark pleasure of it shocked him.
Her thighs slapped against him with each move forward, her fingers tightening around his cock as she increased the pace. His entire body tensed as his climax began to uncoil.
She stopped. Withdrew completely. Removed her hand from his body.
"Mistress," he growled. "Please. I beg you."
"What is it you wish, cowboy? My hand? My mouth? This cock I'm wearing?"
"Yes." He was drooling over the bit. "All of it. Everything."
She eased the phallus back into his body. "At my command."
"Yes. Yes. Whatever you want." Christ, he needed to come in the worst way.
She gave a light laugh. "Really? Anything I want? I think I should do this on a regular basis."
"Please," he begged.
"You only had to ask," she teased.
Now she drove into him rapidly, her hand stroking his cock in cadence with the thrusts of her hips. He clamped down on the bit so hard he was afraid he'd crack the enamel on his teeth. Every muscle in his body tightened.
"Please...Mistress."
"Yes, Quinn. Now."
As his orgasm gripped him with an unfamiliar violence, huge shudders racked him from head to toe. He spewed his release, her small fingers milking him, his come ejaculating with such tremendous force it took away what little breath he had left. He yanked so hard on the ropes binding him he could feel them cutting into his wrists. He was glad for the pillows beneath his head because he was sure he wouldn't be able to hold it up.
She rode him through it, the huge greased dildo sliding in and out of his ass. When the last tremor finally died away he felt as if every bit of energy had been drained from his body. If not for the restraints he would have curled into a fetal position and willed himself into unconsciousness.
Oh no, cowboy. You don't get to leave my presence without permission. Not even your mind.
Selene gave his cock one last stroke before withdrawing from his body. The ropes around his ankles were released, her hands caressing the places where they'd bound him. Easing his legs from their painful position, she massaged the muscles with her angel's touch, kneading from ankle to thigh and back again until the strain eased. Then his wrists. More gentle stroking, kneading, rubbing, until the muscles in his arms also relaxed.
Thank you, Mistress.
It's my pleasure. And my responsibility.
The bed dipped again as she knelt on it beside his head, easing the bit from his mouth. She touched the corners with a tissue, blotting the moisture where he'd drooled uncontrollably. Finally, the blindfold was lifted away.
He blinked at the sudden light, low as it was, jarred back into reality. Selene turned his head and pressed a kiss to his abused lips.
"You did well, cowboy. You pleased me
a great deal." She ran two fingers through the folds of her pussy then painted his lips with her liquid. "Taste me. That apparatus has a clitoral stimulator that works very well. I came hard with the effort, although not as hard as you."
He licked his lips. "I always enjoy the taste of my Mistress."
Selene readjusted the pillows and nudged him over to his back. "Because you've served me so well, I'm going to reward you."
His heart stuttered at her words and the look in her eyes.
"You've earned the third mark." She paused. "If that's still what you want."
"I do." His raspy voice didn't half convey his pleasure at finally being made one with her.
"You won't be the same person afterward. Remember that."
"Do it," he said in the same raw voice.
She brushed his tousled hair from his brow and kissed his eyelid, his nose and his cheeks, every touch conveying the feel of a blessing. When she straddled him, her wet pussy imprinted itself on his stomach, her incredible scent filling his nostrils.
"You're mine, cowboy. Remember that."
"Always." His heart stuttered.
She smiled, her drawn lips revealing her fangs, which emerged even farther at his attention. Lifting one of his wrists to her mouth, she pierced the artery. As she did, he felt that lovely sense of suction from her lips, then...something different. Fire. He arched up with a gasp as her mouth suddenly became a branding iron, scorching the place where she impaled him. Not so painful as to be unbearable, but he felt a rush through his veins, an acceleration of his heartbeat, and then lightheadedness, all the physical effects consuming him as the third mark serum released into his blood.
From here forward, cowboy, every vampire will know you are mine.
I am yours, Mistress. Always.
Visions of the two of them naked and riding Midnight swirled in his mind. He imagined taking her on the horse they rode bareback beneath a bright silver moon. His cock buried deep inside her, the black mane of the horse streaming beneath the stars.
When she lifted her head he missed the loss of contact. The touch of her tongue lapping at the wound was like the feel of velvet. Her lips as they pressed a kiss were warm. But when she smiled at him her fangs were still visible, tinted silver from the third mark serum.
Is it...done?
He wasn't sure why he'd asked, but when he did, she seemed surprised he'd realized that there was more to it. "To complete the process, you must also bite me. Drink of my blood." She pointed to a spot on her neck. "Bite me here. Hard. You won't hurt me, I promise."
His body tightened. "I don't want to injure you."
"The pain lasts a millisecond. But you have to do it." She leaned down to give him close access to her neck.
I never thought I'd be doing such a thing.
I never thought I'd make you my full servant. Do it, Quinn.
He tunneled his fingers in her hair, drawing her head close to him and pressing an open-mouthed kiss to the spot she'd indicated. He sucked the flesh, reddening the skin. Before he could lose his nerve, he bit down hard, puncturing it. He wasn't sure what to expect, but the taste of her blood was rich, sweet...delicious. Somehow he knew it had to do with their bond. Then other things started to happen.
Because of the second mark, he already had a sense of her in his mind, but this was different. It was as if every part of him opened up to her, invited her in. He felt her energy fill him, felt his own flow back into her, as if their souls were weaving together. For a moment it seemed as if she was tugging his heart right out through his chest, a disconcerting experience, but she wound her arms around him, put her cheek against him, made a humming noise.
I love her. The desperate words formed in his brain but he knew she could hear him. I love you.
You are mine. Her mind voice was different, a feral edge to it that said whatever was happening was affecting her as well. He felt her shudder. Gripping her hips with his rough palms, he let the feel of her, naked skin against naked skin, steady him.
Always and forever.
You are mine forever, Quinn. There is no going back. I won't let you go now.
She'd said it was the last choice he'd ever have the freedom to make, when it came to her. Maybe it was as Sam had implied, that he'd made his choice subconsciously, but the point was, he'd known there was no turning back, even before she declared it now.
"As if I'd want to," he growled.
Her fingers tightened on his wrist. "I was right, what I first thought when I saw you. Magic has touched you."
The odd note to her voice made him struggle to think coherently. "I told you about Sam."
She nodded, sliding her fingers along the length of his bare arm, over his tight biceps, down the skin of his forearm, to his palm, and worked the track back, a soothing yet provocative touch at once. Proprietary.
"Your friend marked you in some way as well. I felt it. A soul protection, Quinn. A blessing, but more than that. He keeps tabs on the state of your soul."
"Like a wire tap?"
Her lips curved. "Less nefarious in purpose. It means you matter to him. But I find myself resenting it a bit. I prefer my ownership to be exclusive."
The weakness in his body faded, replaced by a surge of strength and a feeling of exhilaration. He brought her head down to him and kissed her hard, fangs and all, absorbing her breath. "It is," he muttered.
She broke the contact. "I don't want to pierce you again," she chuckled.
He didn't care. He wanted to roll her over and bury himself in her. But she tightened her thighs, anticipating him, and licked the skin where she'd marked him instead. "Already you're healing. Look. This is our sign."
The skin on his wrist had already closed. Riding on the flesh was a mark. Somewhat between the raised texture of a brand, and the darker pigment of a birthmark, it was far more detailed than he'd have expected. Narrowing his eyes, he realized it looked like...a bit. The straight bar of metal, the loops at the end for reins, a frayed short rein curling out from each one. Like the one she'd placed in his mouth?
Her smile was a self-satisfied one. "Someone wanted to remind you of this night forever."
Forever.
When she moved to lever herself from his body he held her to him another blink before releasing her.
"I feel as if I could round up the cattle by myself." He gave her a lazy grin. "Although I have other things on my mind."
"I want to bathe you. Run my fingers over those rope burns on your wrists before the third mark makes them fade." Her lips curved in a tiny smile. "You were an animal, Quinn. One I'd love to ride again and again."
There was a strange tilting happening inside him, a seesaw between exhaustion and a reservoir of energy, pushing against his insides like a dam about to break. She soothed the odd feeling with another stroke of her fingers. "Easy, Quinn. Let the mark take full effect."
"But my Mistress wants me in the shower."
"She'll have you there. When she says you're ready. For now, she says stay." Her fingers wrapped around his cock, her blue eyes glinting.
"Whatever pleases you, Mistress."
Chapter Eleven
A couple days later, Selene agreed it was time to go visit Butch. Quinn was glad she didn't argue about him accompanying her. Apparently giving him the third mark had resolved. She'd even had him call Dix, because in the very hierarchical world of vampires, it was etiquette for the servants to make the initial contact, unless a vampire didn't have a servant.
Well, now she did.
It takes a little while, but when you next wake, the effect will be complete. Your senses will be more acute, your need for sleep reduced. Which means we can make much better use of the nighttime hours.
She'd told him that as he drifted off that night she'd marked him. Though she'd been right, he was still getting used to the effects. The second mark had been an energy boost, but the third one was even better. His senses--smell, vision, hearing, all of it--were exponentially better. If he had a mere two ho
urs sleep, he was good for a day or more of ranch work, and still had energy to spare even after the other hands were dragging.
They told him his new woman wasn't wearing him out enough, because now it was accepted that he and Selene were an item. Everyone seemed to feel pretty good about it, even Annette, though she fussed about not yet meeting the girl. He figured he'd fortify himself with some alcohol for that meet, but then Selene told him that it took about a keg to get a third mark drunk.
Talking to Dix had been an interesting conversation, for certain. When he called him up, pulling out that business card to ensure he had the right number, the phone had rung about five times. The moment Dix answered the cell, Quinn knew the sounds of a man busy in the daily running of a ranch. It made him feel better about the newness of all this. He proceeded as if it were a call about any other type of ranch business.
"Dix, this is Quinn Pedraza from Last Chance. You remember me? From the cattlemen's meet?"
"Sure do. You were one of the few who didn't want to chew on every agenda point like a cow's cud. Though I still think you're bass-ackward about that groundwater ownership issue."
"Boy, you were just in six beers too many. You'd have seen my point if you were sober."
Dix chuckled at that, but proving Quinn's point about him being up to his ass in alligators, the man got right down to brass tacks. "So what can I do you for?"
"I'd like to request a meet with your boss. I've got someone who needs to talk to him. At night."
Quinn didn't think anyone was listening in on his phone calls, but he figured it wouldn't take Dix long to pick up on what he was seeking. Still it was startling how fast Dix recognized it.
"Someone he's met before?"
The man's tone actually changed to something way more formal, and dead serious as any military man or cop Quinn had ever met. Despite his self-admonition to treat this like any other ranch business, it was a cold-water reminder he was entering a world where he was going to be a babe in the woods. He pushed down his uneasiness about that though. He'd been that way at his first rodeo. He'd figured it out and survived to tell the tale. He knew how to change gears to suit a new environment.
"No sir." Respect, not deference. They were both servants, after all. "She needs help. But she's not coming empty-handed. She's hoping what she has to offer makes it a mutually beneficial deal."