Hold Me Close (20 page)

“No.” His hand tightened on the back of her neck and drew her even closer. “Have dinner with me after the show, and I’ll tell you all about my new project.”

Jennifer wanted to melt in Daegan’s firm hold. He made her think about things that made no sense for a woman like her. “I can’t. I already have plans,” she lied.

“You need discipline,” he growled.

“Stop saying stuff like that. You have no idea what I need.” Tears formed in her eyes that she prayed wouldn’t fall.

“Stop lying.” He stared at her for several long seconds more before he dropped his hand and retreated. “Remember what I said earlier. One of these days you won’t be able to run, little rabbit. You’ll have to stand and face your fears. We all do.”

Jennifer watched her Irish devil walk away, his broad body crowding the small space. Her skin tingled where he’d held her in his grip. It took all the willpower she possessed not to rub the sensation away. The sexual frustration she’d been experiencing before she’d been so rudely interrupted had now reached epic proportions. She’d be lucky if she didn’t make a scene during the live demonstration. Not that anyone in this crowd would object if she spontaneously orgasmed while hanging in suspension.

She snorted at the image. Hell, Chase and Murphy would probably give her a raise.

“There you are. C’mon darlin’, we’re going to be late to our own party.”

Jennifer reluctantly turned toward Murphy, who’d crept up behind her. Despite the frustration drowning her, she couldn’t help but smile at the man in front of her. “It’s a good thing Eve will be here tonight. You look downright biteable.” Head to toe tight black did that to a man. Especially one as gorgeous as her boss.

“And if she catches you eyeballing me like that, it will be Eve doing the biting. Let’s finish getting you ready before Chase hunts us both down.” He grabbed her hand and led her down the short hallway. “Was that Daegan you were talking to?”

“As if you didn’t know.”

Murphy stopped and stared at her. “Feeling feisty tonight, are we? Or are you just looking to get your ass beat?” He twirled her around and began attaching more rope to the harness he’d already tied around her chest. “Either way. I’m pretty sure Daegan can handle it.”

“I don’t need to be handled and especially not by him.” The minute the harsh words left her mouth, Jennifer regretted them. It annoyed her to no end how much she let that man get to her. But taking it out on Murphy certainly wasn’t going to help.

“I’m sor—”

Murphy jerked the rope tight, pulling her off her feet and temporarily robbing her of breath. “Don’t apologize to me. I’m not the one who needs to hear it. You and Daegan have been doing this little dance for weeks now. It’s been kind of amusing to watch, but enough is enough, Jennifer. It’s time to either fish or cut bait.”

Jennifer wanted to explode over his words. How many times had she turned Daegan down? That Murphy thought she’d meant that as some sort of foreplay with the infuriating man made her want to lash out. But she knew from experience how far she could push a man like Murphy. Considering they would soon be performing for a packed audience, she settled for grinding her teeth and thinking bad thoughts.

Take a deep breath and let it go. The words of her former therapist filtered through her brain. He’d tried to tell her she had anger management issues, and after six weeks of listening to him go on and on about her faults, she’d fired his ass and never looked back.

Hell, yeah she was angry. When it was warranted.

Fortunately, Murphy had quit talking and seemed involved in getting her tied perfectly. With each pull and tug on the rope, she lost a little bit more of her freedom. Immediately a familiar calm stole over her. She closed her eyes and focused on everything around her. The cool air brushing across her exposed body, the pretty rope pressing down on her while never breaking the skin, the scent of fresh paint mingled with the crisp aroma of the brand-new leather that covered the walls. She imagined the reality of this room when the lights were removed and there were only other senses to rely on.

Her pussy grew hot and swollen, which was only agitated by the rope covering her clit. By the end of the demonstration she’d be needy beyond belief. That idea conjured an image of her dark-haired devil. It was always the quiet ones you needed to be afraid of. Or so she kept hearing. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see below Daegan’s easygoing surface to the churning waters underneath. Every time she got near him, she heard the storm brewing in her head. The energy emanating from him never ceased to arouse her.

Curiosity reared its ugly head, and once again she wondered what he’d do with her once he had her alone. He seemed insistent on her becoming his for the duration of his job. What then? The professional image of Murphy tying her for a shoot dissipated into something entirely different. Her mind wandered, and she let the feeling overtake her. It was Daegan’s big body pressed against her back as he worked the intricate knots.

“There ya go, babe. All secured.” The voice drifting through her senses had a sharp undertone, a gravelly sound of arousal in it.

“Ready for the paint?”

“Yes,” she panted. Anything as long as it meant he’d touch her.

“Lift your arms and be perfectly still.”

Jennifer eagerly obeyed despite the pain of the rope now digging sharply into her hip. Somehow that bite transferred straight to her nipples and clit, hardening them. A soft chuckle sounded from him moments before the cold, wet brush lapped at her belly. She sucked in a breath and gritted her teeth as he began to trail the liquid over her exposed skin.

The ache between her legs nearly exploded on impact. She swore her pulse thundered through her blood and pounded through her cunt.

“Legs apart.” Her overimaginative brain heard Daegan speak the order. She complied. Wet stripes were painted down one side and up the other of each of her legs only inches away from her clenching opening. The rough texture of the brush excited all of her nerve endings, setting her on a course she feared. Her muscles coiled in the beginning stages of an explosive release.

“Please,” she whispered in her head.

All too soon the paint was applied and her hands were cuffed to the chains dangling from the ceiling. Her arms were pulled until she stood on the tips of her toes and her cold muscles cramped in protest at the sudden movements. Her eyes flew open.

“I’ll be right back. Need to check on the crowd and make sure we’re all set. I’ll be in hearing range if you need anything.”

Jennifer licked her lips and nodded. When the door closed behind Murphy, she retreated back to the fantasy she’d begun. This time Daegan pushed a thigh between her legs and brushed against her hot spot for a brief second, her keening cry of need slipping from her lips. He took a knee and placed his face at pussy level where he teased her with hot puffs of air directed across her quaking flesh before dragging a thick finger through her sopping folds.

In the distance she heard someone say something, and then her legs were lifted and bent behind her so they could be attached to the rigging at her wrists. Daegan disappeared from between her thighs, and her pussy squeezed in protest. Reality and fantasy swirled in her head while Murphy lifted her in place. She wasn’t in a scene with Daegan. This was her job. She was about to be on display in front of every single person of influence in the industry. She’d already overheard Chase talking about how many organizations and media outlets were represented tonight.

“Last piece, Jennifer. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” She pushed the word through her lips. Anything to take her mind away from its insane direction.

Murphy wrapped his hand with the long, single braid of her blonde hair and pulled. “You know the drill. The more you move, the more it will hurt. Although this crowd will appreciate any pain you experience from your predicament bondage. So let’s give them a show…”

“Go ahead,” she urged. She no sooner said the words than pain exploded in the tender skin under her hair. Tears sprang to her eyes and threatened to fall. Jennifer relaxed, letting the painful sensation wash over her. This was what she wanted. This distraction. The reminder of who and what she was. Daegan wanted a submissive to shape and bend to his will, and she was simply a pain slut looking for a fix.

“Open your eyes, Jennifer.”

The words were whispered at her ear, Murphy’s hot breath bathing her skin. She lifted her lids and blinked at the eerie glow of the black light filling the room. The Dark Room had been transformed into the sensational play space it was meant to be. People mingled in nearly every inch of the small area, and the energy and excitement rushed over her, leaving her light-headed and thrumming for more. Her pulse pounded in her ears.

And then she saw him.

The crowd parted, and there along the black wall stood her sexy Irishman. Dark hair hung loose around his broad shoulders, which framed his strong jaw perfectly. The tailored shirt and slacks he wore fit in all the right places, reminding her just how hard he felt standing against her. Despite the many men and women standing around him, his gaze was all over her, drinking in every inch of her glowing skin. All the emotion and aching need from the last hour came crashing down on her. All she could picture was him taking her. Pushing his cock between her legs where she was wet and more than ready to take him.

Instead his hot stare said it all. He wanted her, and he would have her. She didn’t have a doubt in her mind it was what he thought. And for the first time in several years, a paralyzing fear seized her. What if she never survived?

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The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. The person or people depicted on the cover are models and are in no way associated with the creation, content, or subject matter of this book.

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