Crime & Punishment 2: Master Delacroix (12 page)

Daniel appeared at her side, a wicked chuckle rumbling through his chest as he studied her. “Woman, you apparently have more balls than you have common sense.”

“Oh, shut up,” she snapped angrily. “You don’t know what he has planned any more than I do.”

“Maybe,” Daniel said, still grinning. “But you don’t know what he’s holding in his hand, and I do.”

At that precise moment, a sting landed across her ass. She yelped in surprise and moved her hips forward, causing her to swing slightly. She frantically dug in with the balls of her feet, trying to make herself stop. Holy crap, that stung.

Another sharp sting exploded across her backside, making her cry out in pain.

“That’s two, sub. Starting with three, I want you to count each flick of this flogger until you reach seventeen.”

Her eyes widened as she desperately tried to see over her shoulder to where he stood. “Wait! What?”

“After each number, you’re to say Master.”

She could hear the air move as he pulled his arm back and flicked the leather fingers of the flogger across her skin. “Ow,” she shouted.

“Connelly,” he growled.

“Three, Master,” she quickly answered.

He hit her again, and she whimpered behind her tightly closed lips. “Four, Master,” she panted, shocked at how the mingling of fear and pain made her limbs tingle with awareness and need. Pain during sex was fun. This wasn’t sex, but the sensations mingled to create a heightened foreplay that made her entire body come alive.

Somewhere about halfway through her punishment, the sting began to morph into something else, and her mind began to slide in and out of her present state. Euphoria made her weak, and she swung freely with each swipe of the flogger, causing Nathan to strike her on different areas of her body.

She heard Nathan’s firm command in her ear. “Do not come, Connelly. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, Master,” she whispered but deep inside wasn’t sure how she would accomplish that herculean task. She was so close now she could hardly stand it.

Another slap of the flogger. What number were they on? “Ten, Master.”

Nathan chuckled. “Sixteen, pet. Don’t try to trip me up.”

“Yes, Master,” she murmured, unsure of what he’d even said.

One more slap, this one harder. She cried out at the intensity of the pain. “Seventeen, Master. Don’t stop. Please.” What had she said? Had she really told him to not to stop? That was nuts! She shook her head, trying to clear it. “No, no. Stop, Master.”

Through her befuddled mind, she saw Nathan walk toward her. “You surprise me, pet,” he said softly. “I didn’t expect this.”

“Didn’t expect?” she whispered, barely able to control her tongue. “It felt…”

“I know, pet.”

He touched his hand between her legs and gently stroked her clit with the heel of his palm in a slow circular motion. He thrust two fingers deep into her channel. She could feel her wetness coating his hand as he fucked her with his fingers. Connelly let her head fall back and her eyes close. The pleasure of his touch mingled with the lingering pain of the flogger to send her screaming over the edge into bliss.

Chapter Eleven

Nathan watched her and was mesmerized by her response to his touch. Why had he ever thought she wasn’t beautiful? When she let herself go, she was stunning. And wet. Nathan grinned at the feel of her cream coating his fingers as he slowly removed them from her still-quivering channel.

“Is she okay?” Daniel asked. “It looks like she passed out.”

Nathan looked over at his brother and grinned. “No. She hit subspace. She’ll be out of it for a few.”

“Huh, interesting.”

“Help me get her down,” Nathan said as he stepped forward and put an arm around her waist.

His shirt rubbed against the nipple clamps, and she moaned in response to the material tugging at the jewelry, which, in turn, pulled at her nipples.

“Almost done, pet,” he whispered as he removed the clamps, then reached up to undo the cuffs around her wrists.

She groaned as her arms fell lifelessly to her sides. “Rub her shoulders for a second, Daniel.”

His brother rubbed at her shoulders and upper arms, helping the blood flow work its way back down. Her fingers clenched into fists as they no doubt tingled painfully. “Her hands,” Nathan said.

Daniel massaged her hands and watched her face as she leaned her cheek against Nathan’s chest. “She is definitely out of it,” he mumbled. “What would you have done if I wasn’t here?”

“I would’ve gotten it done on my own, but since you’re here…” Nathan shrugged. “Besides, maybe you’ll learn a thing or two.”

Daniel curled his lip at Nathan, making him chuckle.

“Which of these subs tonight is free?” Daniel asked as he gently worked the blood back into Connelly’s fingers.

“The blonde is unattached. She’s into mild stuff, so nothing too kinky. The Goth girl likes it rough but isn’t really into pain play. The cute, short brunette is looking for a lifestyle Dom, so unless you want a slave, I would steer clear.”

Daniel nodded and stepped back, allowing Nathan to pick Connelly up in his arms. Once settled, Daniel lifted her lifeless arm and laid it over her stomach. He kissed Connelly’s brow and with one last amused look headed toward the short brunette. Nathan watched his brother talk to the petite cutie, and shook his head.

What the hell?

He was probably just asking her questions—curious as to what a slave was. He couldn’t imagine his brother as a lifestyle Dom. He had trouble picturing Daniel as a Dom, period.

Not that his brother wasn’t dominant, it was just… Hell, he wasn’t sure what it was, really. He’d been in this world so long by himself, maybe it was just the fact his brother was now showing an interest in things that was surprising him.

He needed to stop wondering about his brother and start taking care of Connelly. He turned and headed toward a wicker chair beneath a jasmine-covered portico. It was nice and cool under the leaves, plenty of shade for her fair skin.

He sat and settled her on his lap. She winced, and he realized with a wicked grin that the butt plug was still in place.

“A little sore, pet?” he murmured, and stroked his fingers down her arm.

“You should be shot,” she grumbled.

Nathan laughed softly. “So I’ve been told before, but a good submissive should always thank her Dom after bringing her to such a wondrous orgasm.”

She made a noise deep in her throat that sounded amazingly similar to a snicker. He knew several Doms who would be livid at such a reaction. Nathan found her adorable, but then he’d always enjoyed sassy subs.

The always present and attentive John handed Nathan a bottle of cold water. Nathan mouthed a thank-you. John nodded in response before returning to his ever-watchful position by the bar.

“Take a sip of this, pet; then you can chew me out all you like.”

She snorted and took the water bottle from him with trembling fingers. She downed half of it very quickly, then winced as the cold caused an ice-cream headache effect.

“Not so fast,” he said with amusement.

“Thank you for the water,” she said, eyeing him warily.

He waited patiently for the questions he knew she wanted to ask.

“What happened?” she finally asked.

“You fell into subspace,” he replied. “Apparently you’re more a masochist than you realized.”

“I’m not a…”

Nathan raised an eyebrow.

“Let me guess,” he whispered. “You thought your interest in pain began and ended with fucking, didn’t you? You didn’t realize there was more to it.”

Connelly stared at the water bottle still clutched in her hand, and nodded. Nathan put his finger under her chin, lifting her gaze to his.

“There’s nothing wrong with that, pet. Did you enjoy what you experienced?” he asked even though he already knew the answer. He just wanted to see if she did.

“Yes and no. Not at first, but…” She drew in a shaky breath before continuing. “Are punishments always that way?”

“If they were, would you continue to do things that piss me off?”

Her lips twitched. “Maybe.”

Nathan chuckled. “Normally I don’t allow my sub to come during a punishment. Sort of defeats the purpose. But when I saw how much you were enjoying it, it surprised me, so I let you fall. Nothing surprises me anymore, but you have. And I like that.”

“Well, I’m glad I could surprise you.”

Nathan smiled, both at what she’d said and the confusion running through her mind. “You have a lot to learn and experience, pet.”

She frowned slightly. “So it would seem.”

She shifted and winced as his thigh pressed against the handle of the plug in her ass. “When can we take that thing out?”

“When I say. Uncomfortable?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

She scowled up at him, and he wagged a finger before her nose. “No scowling at your Dom. Unless, of course, you want another punishment.”

“I don’t think my ass could take another one.”

Her words contradicted the way her pupils dilated. She was such a hot little subbie, so readable. His cock was still hard. He wanted her, but there was time for that yet. He had plenty of control and lots of ideas still for his curious little writer.

CONNELLY RESTED HER head against Nathan’s shoulder and relaxed into his comforting embrace. She felt a bit odd sitting on his lap naked while others walked around them. A few glanced curiously in their direction, probably wondering who the hell she was since most everyone here seemed to know each other. She avoided meeting any gazes directly and kept her attention on the various people walking around.

Several were now playing in the pool. The cool water probably felt good in the heat of the late evening. Most of the submissives were naked, although a few donned a thin cover. One wore a really cute knitted one that had so many holes it basically covered nothing.

Nathan’s cock pressed enticingly against her hip as his palm gently slid up and down the outside of her thigh. Not really in a seductive way, but the gentle slide had that effect regardless. She could feel herself getting warm again at the mere thought of sex with Nathan.

Would they even have sex? Or did he just plan to play with her, show her all the various ways a Dom could torture a submissive?

What he’d done earlier hadn’t really been torture, and that was what had shocked her the most. By the eighth flick of that flogger, her whole body had been so on fire sexually she could hardly breathe.

“Move to your knees in front of me, facing the pool.”

Connelly jerked in surprise at the sound of his voice rumbling so sexily through his chest.

“Yes, Master,” she replied as she slid from his lap onto the concrete.

Before she could drop to her knees, he stopped her and tossed a pillow onto the hard ground. “For your knees.”

She silently thanked him and positioned herself on the pillow. The butt plug made things awkward, so she moved slow. Her back was to him, his knees braced on either side of her shoulders as though to hold her in place. The hairs on his legs tickled her skin, and she raised a hand to scratch at her arm.

Nathan’s chuckle of amusement floated across the space that separated them. “Are my legs bothering you?”

“No, Master,” she said. “Are you sure we can’t take this plug out?”

“The more you ask me, the longer I’m going to leave it in.”

Connelly sighed and let it go. It was obvious Nathan did things in his own time; it was just a shame the things he did had such a damning effect on her. He gently massaged her shoulders, and she let her head tilt to the side with a sigh of utter contentment.

“I’m very proud of you, pet. You’re doing quite well.”

She felt her chest swell just a bit. “Thank you, Master.”

He leaned forward and slid his hands lower. He cupped her breasts, and she jerked, glancing around nervously at the eyes watching them.

“Ignore them,” he said in her ear, his voice deep and strangely captivating. “If they stare, it’s only because they like what they see.”

“Right. And what would that be?” she asked sarcastically. “My bare breasts or the live porn show?”

“Most likely both.” He pinched her nipples hard, making her wince, but that sharp pierce of pain went straight to her dampening pussy.

“I think I might’ve spoken too soon. Perhaps you need something to keep your mouth occupied.”

She scowled over her shoulder. “No. I think my mouth is just fine, thank you.”

Nathan’s chuckle was wicked and sent a tremor of apprehension up her spine. What did the sadist have in mind now?

“I think not. Turn around, sub.”

Connelly stiffened. “Why?”

“Don’t ask me again. Just do it. Now.”

His tone had changed. Gone was the amusement, and in its place was a cold bite of steel. Connelly swallowed and, bracing her hands on his knees, used them to leverage herself up so she could turn.

“We need to work on that,” he said as he watched her. “You should never use my legs as leverage.”

She frowned. “What if I was injured?”

“That would certainly be different, but you’re not now, are you?”

Her gaze moved down his body, over his wide, smooth chest and his trim waist, clearly visible now that he’d pushed his swim trunks down revealing his… Her stare came to rest on his thick cock fisted in his palm. Her eyes widened at the sight of him, and she had a feeling she knew what he had in mind. Her entire body began to tingle. Hadn’t she just been fantasizing about this before he flogged her and brought her to yet another amazing orgasm?

“On your knees, sub, and put that sassy mouth of yours to work on my cock.”

Connelly quickly moved her gaze back to his. “But, um, you’re…”

He raised an eyebrow. “I’m what, pet?”

She stared back down at his thick rod and sighed. “Huge.”

“I believe I told you that the other day,” he said, his lips twitching slightly. That amusement was back, and she realized she liked him so much better amused. “You don’t have to take it all, Connelly. Matter of fact, I haven’t met a woman yet who could come anywhere close.”

Her lips twisted. “Well, duh, but that’s somewhat of a relief, I suppose.”