A Dom's Dilemma (2 page)

Unh, uh, girl. You’re mine tonight.
His reaction quick and decisive, Jim gave Kelly’s hair another painful yank.

“Oww,” she whined, grabbing for his wrist a second time.

“Hands down, sub. First and last warning for that. Do it again, and you’ll be punished.”

Kelly lowered her hands, but cried out, “You’re hurting me, Sir.”

“Am I now?” he asked, bending down to gaze directly into her face. “And do you have a problem with that, sub?”

The tears started to fall in earnest then, and he could see her tremble. “I don’t like pain, Sir,” she admitted, her voice wavering.

“Really?” Jim asked. “That’s most interestin’, since I heard differently. I was told that you prefer rough handlin’. That you need it, actually. Have I been misinformed?”

When Kelly hesitated in her response, Jim gave her hair another tug. Not quite as hard this time, yet still firm enough to hurt. She managed to keep her hands down at her sides, although her tears fell a little more copiously. “I’m sorry, Sir!”

“For what?” he asked in a soft growl, his lips so close to hers that if either of them shifted a fraction of an inch closer, he’d be kissing her. He inhaled, fully appreciating the hint of mint he scented in her breath as well as the light floral fragrance she wore that teased at his senses. However, what he expected to smell, but didn’t, was the sensual allure of a woman’s arousal. Kelly Franklin was clearly not enjoying this.

“For disobeying and complaining, Sir,” she admitted on a small sob.

Jim released her hair then and watched as she instantly reached up to rub her tender scalp. Thinking Kyle might be mistaken about little Kelly, Jim gripped her arm and snapped, “Come with me, sub.”

Though he suspected Kelly wanted to glance back at Kyle in a mute appeal for help, Jim was gratified when she obediently followed his lead without so much as a peek backwards. Aware that Kyle trailed them with a worried expression, he did not acknowledge his fellow Dom either. Jim’s gut was telling him Kelly obeyed out of fear, not a desire for domination. He intended to continue with his present course a bit longer, but he’d already decided he would ease up on hurting her. If she needed or wanted more pain from him, he’d be able to tell it right off.

When they got over to the chaining station, Jim released her and crossed his arms over his chest. “Strip.”

“Here, Sir?” Kelly asked, and he noted the hesitation in her voice. This sub did not like being exposed in public, but, unfortunately, he wanted to see her, which meant he wasn’t offering a choice.

Uncrossing his arms, he leaned in. Since he stood a good eight inches taller, her head didn’t quite reach his chin. So when he towered over her, she had to bend her slender neck back to meet his gaze, as she did now. Her eyes were wide with apprehension as she took in his deliberately stern expression. Seeing her quick swallow, he knew she realized her mistake, but spelled it out anyway, to avoid any misunderstanding between them.

“Since we’re just gettin’ to know each other tonight, subbie, I’m gonna cut you a little slack. When I give an order, I expect it to be obeyed. Immediately. No questions asked. Hesitation will earn you a sharp correction. Do we understand each other?”

“Yes, Sir.” Her response emerging as little more than a whimper, he could see fear bloom in her eyes. He wanted her unbalanced, not terrified, so he backed off a step.

“Good.” He crossed his arms back over his chest and waited for her to obey his last command, without repeating it. When Kelly still didn’t move, Jim decided she needed a bit more incentive than his scowl, so he spoke softly, but firmly. “You have until the count of five, sub, and if you aren’t out of all those clothes and on your knees in a properly submissive presentation to me, I’m taking you over to the spanking bench and givin’ you your first taste of Master James’s discipline.”

* * * *

Oh shit! He’s serious!
Kelly realized as she scrambled to do what this scary Dom had ordered while he counted down from five.

Practically ripping off her play clothes, she was stripped and down on her knees, thighs spread with her hands clasped tightly behind her head before Master James had reached a count of three. She thanked her lucky stars when he gave a nod of approval.

“Good, girl.”

Still breathless from her rush, Kelly barely suppressed her tears.
Oh, God. Why did Kyle have to give me to him?
She’d seen the way he mastered subs, and his technique had intimidated the living daylights out of her. Any sub he took under his command had a sore-looking butt, puffy red eyes, and a quivering lower lip within ten minutes of first meeting him. Kelly never stuck around long enough to see how the girl had fared when their session was over. She’d been too worried that he’d spot her next and imperiously signal her over to kneel beside his other sub.

Master James terrified her so much that any time she thought he was even looking in her direction, she scrambled to get out of his line of sight. And now he had her kneeling at his feet, with her pussy exposed, her back arched and her breasts pushed out … all for his pleasure. Clamping down on her lower lip, Kelly concentrated on keeping perfectly still and not shaking while Master James slowly walked around her, clearly taking his time. She didn’t dare look up to see what he thought of her position, and was too scared to even contemplate if he liked her body.

Finally he murmured, “Very nice form, sub.” Kelly was releasing an inner sigh of relief, when the brawny Texan added, “Present your ass to me next, please.”

Kelly winced, then went through a few mental exercises as she obeyed. Don’t think, Kelly. Just obey. He’s only mind fucking you, girl. He’s merely going to look, not touch. And he’s not going to hurt you as long as you obey his every instruction without comment or delay. By the time she’d finished her pep talk, Kelly had shifted to her hands and knees and lowered her front so her weight rested on her elbows and arms. Then with a deep breath, she touched her head to the floor and lifted her butt high for this Dom’s inspection. Eyes closed, she swallowed and waited.

“You do that very nicely, Kelly.” The cozy approval in Master James’s words surrounded her in warm, sweet caramel.

His voice alone sent a rush of heat running along her bottom and thighs like a flow of sugary molasses, and a part of her melted inside from the glow of his intimate praise. Then his rough, firm palm skimmed over her buttocks. She hadn’t expected him to touch her, and the sensation of his steady fingers caressing her with such purposeful intent caused her to shift her hips. The light smack he gave her right butt cheek stung enough for her to jerk and let out a tiny yip.

“You are not to move without my permission, sub. Understand?” he growled in a low voice.

Oh shit! Oh shit! Oh shit!
This guy was the type of dominant that gave Kelly nightmares. He was a Master who didn’t have subs. He had slaves.

“Yes, Sir,” she answered back quickly, though even she could hear the cowardly, tremulous waver in her voice. Nothing happened for a moment, making Kelly want to curl up into a tight ball and hide, but she remained in what she thought was the most humiliating position for a sub to present. Then Master James ran a long finger down the crease in her buttocks as a test. Kelly held herself perfectly still, thinking he’d stop when he reached her anus. Instead, he spread his fingers to expose it. Unable to restrain the small whimper that escaped her throat, Kelly managed to hold her position.

“Good girl,” the Dom praised. And despite her fear and humiliation, Kelly felt caressed by molasses again. “However,” he added as a stern caution. “I expect you to remain silent unless I ask you a question, or give you permission to speak.” Kelly closed her eyes and concentrated on holding still and keeping quiet, all the while quaking inside with uncertainty over what he intended to do next. Then his fingers slipped even lower as he plunged one deep into her vagina.

Oh God!
Kelly’s head came up with a gasp. When he rewarded her lapse with a much firmer smack on her left buttock this time, she couldn’t restrain her yelp, though she tried not to move since his finger was still embedded inside her. Her nerves were so taut, she couldn’t believe she hadn’t burst into tears already, but somehow she’d managed to hold it together.

“What did I tell you, sub?” Master James growled as his broad silk-covered chest covered her back and he spoke directly into her ear. He may have meant the action to be threatening, but the strength and heat from his firm, muscular body actually calmed her. Even the feel of his finger still lodged within her, neither pressing nor moving, served to center her.

Taking a deep breath she answered, “That I am not to move or make a sound, Sir.”

“And what did you do?” he demanded, giving her no quarter.

“I moved without permission, gasped and yelped, Sir. But I couldn’t help it, Sir. Your first touch surprised me, and that punishment hurt …Sir,” she added, knowing the excuse wouldn’t do shit to save her, yet needing to provide the explanation anyway. Then she tightened her buttocks in self-defense, expecting to feel the full weight of his hand descend sharply again for her impertinence. But nothing happened.

After a long moment, Kelly felt his finger slowly pull out of her, making her acutely aware of a sense of loss and the lack of warmth when he stood up. She remained in position, since he hadn’t given her permission to move.

Finally he said, “Rise up on your knees and present your wrists to me, sub.”

Though Kelly trembled inside, she obeyed without hesitation. Looking into his unsmiling visage, she saw him give her a slow nod of approval before he pulled a pair of Velcro-secured leather cuffs from his belt and fastened them on her.

Oh, God.
He was going to restrain her somewhere, then punish her for her mistake. Keeping her eyes fixed on his face, she couldn’t stop shivering as she wondered if he liked using whips on his slaves.

“Easy, Kelly,” Master James murmured, helping her back to her feet. His rich, deep baritone caressed her between her legs, while an unexpected tingle rushed through her as his warm, large hands ran along her shoulders and down the length of her arms. When the quiet, purposeful motion calmed her, his long fingers wrapped about her wrists.

Maybe, he didn’t intend to whip her after all. Maybe, he would only spank or paddle her. Despite her thoughts, his composed presence soothed her qualms.

“Good, girl. Now I want you to stand at ease for me, Kelly,” Master James commanded, keeping his gaze riveted to her face the entire time. She had the feeling he was measuring her every reaction. He didn’t have mean eyes. They were mostly brown, with a light scattering of gold specks sparkling throughout. They captivated her. Then she stared at his mouth. His lips looked firm, yet amazingly kissable. He wasn’t smiling, but he wasn’t scowling, either. He was merely observing and taking note. It should have made her feel like a specimen on display, except the way he held her, slightly apart, but with secure, firm assurance, she felt … protected. When she stood steadily before him on her own two feet, he gave her a small smile with his nod of approval.

He approved of her. Kelly almost giggled with relief until she realized he was holding her this way because he intended to chain her. She hated being restrained. Really hated it. Unable to prevent a tiny whimper of fear from escaping her lips, she held still while his velvety brown eyes devoured every inch of her face and form.

CHAPTER TWO

“Have you got your new safe word picked out yet, sub?” Master James inquired in a voice that sounded sexy, yet kind. His slow, easy drawl stroked away Kelly’s qualms as it enticed her toward trust.

“Pear, Sir,” she answered without hesitation, pleased when Master James gave her another approving nod.

“That’ll be fine. So, you wanna safeword now, Kelly?”

Kelly bit her lower lip with uncertainty. He didn’t seem angry at the moment, but she had disobeyed him and he was the sort of Dom who dispensed punishments because of a sub’s misdeeds, not his emotions. However, he’d also managed to soothe her earlier fears, so she gathered up her courage. “May I ask you a question first, Sir?”

His eyes still locked on hers, he gave another nod. “You may.”

“Sir, are you going to punish me now, Sir?” she asked, unable to hide her wince or mask the panicked tremor in her voice the mere thought of one of his strict and painful punishments engendered.

“What makes you think I’m gonna punish you?” Master James asked, his expression genuinely curious.

“Because I yelped out, Sir, after you ordered me not to make a sound,” she admitted, her breath coming in hitches now.

Master James gave a thoughtful nod, and Kelly feared his answer was yes when he released her wrist to skim one long, lean finger along the edge of her cheek in a light caress. Held in thrall by the pure seductiveness of his touch, she couldn’t help wondering if that was the finger he had pressed so deeply inside her.

“Very good, Kelly,” he answered. And though his smile was meant more to be reassuring than affectionate, it still warmed her. She began to think she’d submit to any punishment he chose, if he’d only hold and comfort her afterwards.

“While you’re right, that would be a punishable offense,” he continued in his warm western accent. “I’m not gonna punish you for it now.”

Tears filled Kelly’s eyes. Letting out a sigh of relief, she whispered, “Thank you, Sir,” as she submissively lowered her gaze to the floor when Master James turned to glance over at Kyle. Then the Dom placed a gentle, but imperious finger beneath her chin to urge her head back up.

“Look at me for a moment, Kelly girl,” he commanded. When she obeyed, her lower lip quivering, this large, stern yet handsome, strong man drew her into the refuge of his arms. “It’s all right, darlin’. You’re safe. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

Unable to hold back her tears against her relief and his offer of comfort, Kelly started to cry hard. But even between her sobs, she heard the man, whose arms surrounded her so securely, continue to speak warm, soothing assurances in her ear, until all she wanted was to stay where she was and listen to him forever.