RequiredSurrender (22 page)

“Oh thank you, Sir.”

“You’re welcome.”

He was staring again and she tried not to frown while she
waited.

“Do you have anything positive to share with me before you
go to bed?”

She thought about what he was asking. And then thought about
the day. Quickly she rifled through a dozen things she could have shared, but
positive? Hm. Then it came to her. “I love the roses.”

A ghost of a smile played around his lips before he let go
of the necklace and sat back. “Do you know what orange roses signify?”

She frowned. It would figure. Didn’t the guy do anything,
one thing without intent? “No…Sir.”

“Desire. And the fact that they’re grouped in six signifies
something too. Tomorrow in your free time I want you to look that up, and then
tell me tomorrow night when you say good night to me.”

She nodded.

“Don’t you have something else to say to me?”

Her previous frown deepened and she shook her head.

“You do. Take a minute and think. I’m throwing you a bone
here because in the future I want to be surprised hearing the words.”

Now she remembered. “I belong to you, Master.”

He lifted her chin and looked her right in the eyes. “Yes
you do. Tell me again.”

A thrill went through her and her breathing quickened. His
look combined with his close proximity and his hand on her had her trembling.
This time when she said it she meant it. “I belong to you, Master.”

She was rewarded with the softest kiss imaginable.
Unhurried, yet filled with a brand of ownership that turned her insides to
jelly. By the time he pulled away she was sure if he asked her to kiss his feet
she would have, but he didn’t. Instead he caressed her cheek before he sat back
once more.

“Good night, Jo. Get a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow is going
to be a trying day for both of us.”

She stood and went to the ladder steps that led up to the
beds. She’s been right to call this a treehouse because that was what it felt
like. And the second she scooted down over his mattress to the bottom where her
section was she got a better look. Spying the length of her area running
perpendicular to his made her scowl. It looked like a fucking crib…but then
once she settled and eyed the room below through the rails, she decided she wasn’t
going to complain. The rails were the only things standing between her and
certain injury. If they weren’t fencing her in and she took one wrong roll in
the middle of the night? Well, she didn’t want to think about that. Instead she
stayed very still as she covertly examined the corner of the room where the
Sybian was. All kinds of thoughts and fantasies played in her mind until Ted
called up.

“Turn over, Jo, and face my bed. Stop analyzing and get some
sleep.”

Easy for him to say. She rolled over and punched the pillow
a couple of times, pretending it was his head.

“Jo.”

With a harrumph, she threw herself down and slammed her eyes
shut. Repeating the silent mantra, “I will not kill him in his sleep. I will
not kill him in his sleep.”

“Try, ‘I belong to my Master’.”

Her eyes popped open and she gasped. How did he…? “Fuck
you,” she whispered in her softest of soft voice, for no other reason than it
gave her perverse satisfaction knowing she could do it and he’d never know. She
let out a contented sigh and had just resettled when he called.

“I heard that by the way.”

So fucking what.

This time, however, she wisely kept the words to herself.

* * * * *

Jo pushed the sheer fabric of her outfit back up on her
shoulder again and inputted the last of her calculations. Examining the totals,
she nodded and sat back. Not too shabby. Her clients would be pleased.

For the hundredth time she checked the clock at the bottom
of the screen. Ten minutes to two. She had ten full minutes to get a handle on
this rush of adrenaline that spiked every time she thought about what was going
to happen at two.

Think about something else.
Anything else but Ted
and that deadline.
She powered off her computer and closed it with a snap.
The only thing that came to mind? Was her morning before work started when
she’d knelt in front of the long window and thought about the positive things
from the day before. It didn’t take her too long, as finding the roses was the
only item on her list. Well, that, and they hadn’t killed each other—that probably
counted as a good thing.

Actually, now that she thought about it, just doing this
form of meditation before a busy morning was nice. It was grounding. It gave
her a center point to start her day. Maybe she could write about that in her
journal…or maybe after she got through the afternoon she’d have something
better to write about.

No point putting off the inevitable. She got up and went to
the door. When she opened it, Ted was right there on the opposite side of the
hall. Leaning with his back against the wall. One leg raised and bent at the
knee with foot flush against the rich cherry-wood paneling.

“Hi.”

“Hi back.” He used that foot and pushed off to stand. “All
finished?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Good.” He stepped forward and held out a hand. “You look
great by the way.”

She made a dubious face and laced her fingers in his. “I do?
I was thinking I looked like
I Dream of Jeannie
in this get-up.”

He stared down at her. “Yeah, I loved that show.”

She could tell he meant it. The fact that both of them
apparently watched “oldies sitcoms” struck her as funny and she laughed. “Why,
because Barbara Eden had to call Larry Hagman Master?”

“Yes.”

She wasn’t laughing now. The way his gaze burned her up had
her sweating. “It figures.”

“Does it? That show was a veiled attempt at portraying an
acceptable D/s relationship. The only problem with Hagman’s character Captain
Nelson? The guy was a switch.”

“Ya think?”

“I did a paper on it in high school.”

“Get. Out!” Without thinking she slapped him on the shoulder
and when he stiffened she realized how un-slave-like the action was. He
probably thought she was trying to flirt with him or something. Well, she had
been, but she hadn’t done it on purpose. Besides it was too soon for that. “I
ah,” she straightened one side of his collar, “didn’t mean to be so…um—”

He tightened the grip he had on her hand and pulled her
along down the hallway as he offered, “Flirtatious?”

“Yes.”

“It’s bound to happen once in a while.”

That statement almost caused her to stumble. She wanted this
kind of exchange between them to happen more than once in a while. So did his
comment mean he didn’t?

By the time they reached the third floor and he pulled her
through the door she was going to question him about it, but then saw the
stool. A squat and sturdy wooden stool that was parked right beside the Sybian.
It wasn’t this that commandeered her attention though, it was what was on it.

“Is t-that a flogger?”

“What?”

Like he didn’t know.

She pointed. “On the stool over there.”

His expression was totally blasé when he replied, “Yes it
is.”

“All rightie, I’m out of here.” She spun around and got one
foot out the door when the air left her lungs with a whoosh as he scooped her
up. Once the breath returned to her, she kicked and squirmed and pushed and
beat against the steel bands of his arms.

It was as if he didn’t even notice her flipping out in his
forced embrace when he matter-of-factly said, “No you’re not.”

“Put me down.”

“Not until you stop with the dramatics.”

She wasn’t going to. No fucking way. Oh she knew she’d
agreed to this when she signed that contract, but it was one thing on paper and
quite another when you saw the thing in broad daylight. Yeah, it was daylight.
Didn’t kinky pain shit happen to people in a dark and dingy basement that
smelled like…like a barroom after hours? Hell no, she wasn’t going to stop.
Never.

Which, as it turned out, happened to be five minutes later
when her heart clattered and her chest heaved as if she’d run the Boston
Marathon in record time. She was suddenly too exhausted to move another muscle
and the fight drained right out of her.

“That’s better.” Ted carried her over to the Sybian and
gently eased her down. He held on to her until she had her bearings and then he
bent and whispered in her ear, “I want you to take off your outfit. I want you
to do it nice and slow. Entice me.”

And she wanted to tell him to go fuck himself. To eat shit
and die, but then she smelled his cologne. Heard his soft and encouraging words
and suddenly she found herself doing exactly as he’d told her to do.

Damn…

Chapter Sixteen

Ted wasn’t sure Jo would do it. So when she took off her top
and tossed it aside he let out the breath he’d been holding. He was ready to
get their new relationship started, and he didn’t want to come up against any
more roadblocks. The plan was to be as normal as possible so she’d follow his
lead.

“Now the bottoms.”

She didn’t look at him as she did his bidding, which really
turned him on.

“Very good.” Once she was naked he came forward and took her
by the hand. “Come on. We’re going to face this fear of yours together.”

“I don’t want to.”

The grumble in her voice had him biting back a grin. He
needed to be serious when he responded. “You want what I want, and what I want
is for you to face the monster under your bed and get to know him so he won’t
continue to scare you.”

“Monsters are monsters for a reason. They’re supposed to
scare you.”

They stopped at the stool and he let go of her hand. “I
don’t believe that. It isn’t the monster you’re really afraid of. I’ll prove it
to you.”

“No.”

He stared down at her bowed head and sighed. “I think your
first essay to me is going to be a thesis on how the word ‘no’ is useless in a
slave’s vocabulary.”

Slowly her head came up until she glared at him. If looks
could kill he’d be pushing up daisies. “I agreed to be your ‘sex’ slave. So
when it comes to sex I won’t say no. In regards to other things? You’ll just
have to fu—um, deal with it.”

He stepped forward, but she didn’t step back. Not very
encouraging. Clearly she had drawn her line and he was going to have to drag
her over it if need be.

“You signed the contract and I do believe I offered you more
than one out even after you signed. This flip-flopping is getting tiresome. The
way I see it? It’s far too late for you to be redefining our arrangement. It is
what it is and it is as I say, or it’s not at all.”

He watched her carefully and imagined he could actually see
his words and their meaning sink in, because her stance and expression changed.
Yes, gone was the pillar of strength and in her place was a woman teetering on
the edge. Shit, the last thing he wanted her doing right now was crying. He
couldn’t take that.

No emotions. Remember that. He remained silent, determined
to wait her out.

“I’m scared.”

Fuck. He knew how much that admittance cost her so he had to
fight the urge he had to pull her into his arms and reassure her. She wasn’t
his girlfriend anymore. He needed to keep his distance if he was going to have
her in his life. She made that bed and now she’d have to sleep in it.

“Look at me.” When she did he ignored her tear-shiny eyes
and asked, “Are you going to listen to me without talking back?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He reached to the side and collected the flogger.
Holding it between them, he said, “This is not the monster you’re afraid of.”

She kept her gaze fixed on him when she spoke, “I’m pretty
sure it is.”

He shook his head. “And I’m pretty sure that the monster in
every case turns out to be a person’s fear of the unknown. Face that with
courage and you get to know it and him. Then there’s no more fear. Just like
the concept of pain. Remember what I told you?”

She slowly nodded.

“Once you know what the worst is and you’ve handled it? You
can accept it and process the experience on a personal level until the pain, or
in this case monster, has no power over you.”

“I trust you.”

“That’s what I expect. Now,” he returned the flogger to the
stool and stepped back, “I’m going to explain how we’re going to proceed. If
you have any questions you better ask them before we get started. Okay?”

“Yes.” She was eyeing the stool and he thought she was going
ask about the flogger, but she didn’t. “What’s your Kindle doing there? Are you
going to take pictures or something?”

“Pictures?”

“Yeah,” she pointed to the ground next to the stool where
he’d put it.

“A Kindle doesn’t take photos and no, if it puts your mind
at ease, I will not be taking pictures today.”

She let out a relieved breath, still frowning. “So why is it
there?”

This wasn’t exactly where he wanted to start with his
explanations, but with her zeroed in on his reader he figured he’d have to.
“I’m going to read while I’m waiting.”

She shot a look up. “For?”

“For you to do what I want instead of what I’ve forbidden
you to do.” He shrugged. “I think it’s going to be a timely process.”

He actually thought it was going to be hell for both of
them, but he didn’t add that.

“Sounds exciting.”

He didn’t like the face she made. “Jo.”

She drew in a heavy breath and then blew it out. “Just tell
me what you want me to do.”

“Actually, it’s what I don’t want you to do that’s more
important.”

“All right.”

He stared her down until she readjusted the belligerent tilt
of her chin. She had balls he’d give her that. When she was looking a little
more demure he let it rip. “From now on every time you come you will say ‘I
love you, Master’.”

She gasped.

“You’re forbidden to come otherwise.”

“That’s…that’s…the flogger and now this? And the figging
even? You’re using all my hard limits against me.”

Well, if she thought she was uttering some form of
revelation to him she’d be dead wrong. “Of course.”

“You can’t do that. It’s against the rules.”

She looked so ticked off and frustrated he wanted to smile.
“If there are any rules between us I make them. So if the idea gives you
comfort, consider it a rule.”

She searched his face while the wheels spun. Her mouth
opened, closed and then opened again. “Okay, I think I need to phone a friend.
This isn’t right.”

“Colin?”

“No. Ethan. He’d never pull a low-down dirty trick like
this.”

“You’re right. Maybe you should have picked him to Top you
instead of me. And as to phoning him? This isn’t a game show, so it’s out of
the question.”

She crossed her arms and he loved how her breasts rested on
the shelf her forearms made. “I’m never going to say that. I told you before I
can’t. I won’t. And you can’t make me.”

He tapped the tip of her nose with his forefinger before she
jerked back. The fact that she swatted at his hand like she was getting rid of
a pesky fly made him chuckle. “You will because I said you will.”

“You think this is going to be so easy. It won’t, I—”

“No.” That got her antennae up and waving. “I never said
this was going to be easy. Especially for you.”

“Why, because you think I’ll crumble the first chance I
get?”

He closed the small space between them and helped her uncross
her arms. “No,” he whispered while he rubbed over her hardened nipples with the
backs of his hands. “Because I know you won’t crumble without a fight. Knowing
this, I’m going to give you two options. Either you do as I’ve told you to do
and we move forward with your training or you don’t and we hang back until
you’re forced to comply.”

“I’m not going to say it.”

“You will.”

“Then hang back it is. I’m sorry if that makes you mad.”

He took one look at her stubborn little face and sighed, “No
you’re not. And as to me being mad? How could I be? This second option might be
more grueling for both of us, but the end result will be worth it. A lesson has
a tendency to stick better when there’s suffering involved.”

“Oh yeah? No worries because I’m ready.”

She didn’t fool him. He felt her little tremors and they
weren’t caused by fear. She was ready all right, but not for what he had in
mind. He was sure. “First I want you to know what you’re dealing with, then
we’ll talk about how ready you are.” He reached around her and picked up the
controller that was sitting on the machine. “Turn around and watch.”

The second she did, he moved in to crowd her. Pressing
against her back and bringing his arms around to circle her as he clicked on
the device. “You see how it moves.” He adjusted the dial to show the different
settings. “Put your hand on the leather. Feel how steadily it vibrates.”

“It’s strong.”

“Yes,” he curled down and spoke into her ear. “Now do you
see why you don’t have a chance to fight me? Whether you want to or not, this
is going to make you come, and when you do you’ll have to say the words I want
you to say, or else you’ll be disobeying me.”

Her hand fell away from the leather and her gaze remained
fixed on the floor. “I’m not going to get on it.”

“Don’t say that.” Ted reached forward, forcing her to bend
with him when he put the remote down on the crest of the saddle. As they
straightened he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her in tight.

“I don’t want to disobey you.”

“Then don’t.” He kissed her ear, throat and dipped down to
nibble on her collarbone.

“But I can’t say those words. I don’t want to ever say them
again.”

“Shhh.” He cupped her breasts and gently pulled on her
nipples as he continued to alternate between biting and licking the curve of
her shoulder and the pulse point at the base of her throat. “It’s just you and
me here. Forget about the rest of the world and what came before we made this
agreement. This moment, and every moment forward, I own. I want this from you
and you’re going to give it to me.”

He slipped a hand down over her stomach, navel, belly and
lower across her mound until he reached between her legs. God she was hot and
wet. So ready to be fucked that he had to steel himself. “Lean back. That’s
right.” The position gave him better access to her and he took advantage of it.
Slipping two fingers into her, he almost groaned. So pliant and silky and when
she flexed and pushed against his hand he knew she’d do just fine on the Sybian
now, primed as she was.

“I want you to go for a ride.”

She moaned and worked her hips against his hand faster.

“No, not like this.” Easing his fingers out of her, he said,
“Get down on your knees. That’s right.” He helped her and when she was kneeling
between him and the machine he buried a hand in her hair and ordered, “Crawl
over to it. Come on,” he used her hair like a leash and tugged to lead her,
pleased when she didn’t fuss. “Get on. It’s okay.” He let go of her hair and
picked up the controller. Waiting a few seconds before he bent to help her
straddle it.

“I can’t—”

“You need to come toward me. A little farther back. A little
more…”

She sucked in a breath when she connected and the dildo slid
partway into her.

“There, now go easy. Slow. Slow. That’s right. A little more
each time. Good.”

Already she was biting her lip and pivoting her hips. She
wouldn’t last a minute once he turned it on.

“Remember what I said. No coming without those words.” He
fisted a hand in her hair and pulled back, making sure she was listening. When
her eyes met his he told her, “I mean it. I don’t care what you have to do to
hold yourself off. I don’t want you finishing without those words spoken,
understood?”

Silence.

He gave her hair a tug.

“Yes…but—”

He tugged again. “No buts. Just do it.”

She closed her eyes and he took that as acquiescence.

“Very good. Now…”

Jo was in serious trouble. With the pressure of the dildo
inside her and his hand in her hair, she was on the brink of coming right now.
But then—

She sucked in a breath and huffed it out. “Turn it off! Turn
it off. Pleeeese.”

“You can come, Jo, just say the words. It feels so good,
doesn’t it?”

Immediately adrenaline soared, and a heavy rush of tingles
started at her toes and raced upward. Over her calves, her knees, her thighs
and landed right between her legs with a stunning series of contractions that
turned her breathless one moment and panting the next. He needed to either turn
off the fucking machine, get his hand out of her hair or stop talking low in
her ear because she was going to…to…

“I belong to you, Master,” she cried as she came so hard her
thighs shook against the sides of the leather. That was the best she could do
and if that didn’t make him happy too ba— “Ow!”

Thankfully, he powered off the machine from hell, but he
still had hold of her hair, only now he yanked so sharply her eyes watered.
“Those weren’t the words I wanted to hear from you.”

He made it impossible for her not to look at him. “That’s
the best I could do.”

“Oh no it’s not. Stand up.” He didn’t wait for her to move
but pulled her up by her hair.

“You fu—bully!” she screamed and tried to smack him. He was
faster and got his free arm around her, effectively pinning hers to her sides.
“Let go.”

“Quiet.”

“Let. Go.”

Her head snapped back so fast from the force of his tug she
thought he’d scalped her. “What did I say about carefully weighing the
corrective measures I may have to mete out if provoked?”

His one arm had her body trapped and immobile while he
buried his free hand in her hair to hold her head still. Most women manhandled
in such a way would have the sense to keep quiet. Maybe tamp down the glaring,
but not Jo. She was—

“Jesus fuck!” He caught himself just in time. The surprise
of her slap landing nearly caused him to let go of her. He didn’t. Instead he
readjusted his grip in her hair and squeezed the rest of her more firmly.
“You’ve got bigger balls than most men I know.”

“And you won’t have any by the time I’m through with you.
Let me go.”

“No.” He was sure his quiet and silky tone got her attention
because just then she did a double take and immediately stopped squirming. The
dawning horror on her face confirmed that she was as shocked as he’d been over
the slap.

“I’m s-sorry. I didn’t mean…”