Seduced by Fire (11 page)

“Yes, but I also came to spend time with you. To get to know you better and because I like you.”

“You have no idea how refreshing it is to be with someone who tells it like it is.” He leaned so close she felt the heat radiate off him. “I like you, too.”

His hand came up and cupped the side of her face, while his lips trailed lower to brush against hers. Softly. Nothing but a touch, but already she was hungry and aching for him. She clenched her fists in her lap.

He pulled away, but left an arm around her shoulders. “I thought we could spend some time in the playroom today. Nothing intense, just some basics.”

She leaned closer to him, anxious for more of his touch. “Yes.”

“Last weekend, I gave you ‘red’ as a safe word. There’s also ‘green’ if you want more, and ‘yellow’ if I’m pushing too hard or you’re approaching your limit.”

Green, yellow, and red. Seemed simple enough.

“No one should ever hold the use of a safe word against you. And you should never, ever play without one.” His arm dropped from her shoulder. “Make sense?”

“Yes, sir,” she said, simply because it seemed the right thing to say.

He gazed at her with unconcealed hunger and then took her in his arms and kissed her with a breathless intensity. His lips were hard and so possessive that she was finally beginning to understand the warnings he’d given her in the past.

He moaned when he pulled back. “Julie.” He took her hand and placed it on the bulge of his erection. “When you call me that . . .”

Something a lot like pride rushed through her at being able to affect him so.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“Yes, sir,” she said, stroking him through the material of his jeans. “Please, sir.”

“My, my, my, you nearly purred when you said that.” He lifted his hips into her palm. “Does my playful little kitten want what’s in her hand?”

She gave him another stroke. “Yes, sir.”

He grabbed her wrist. “Then first she has to prove she can behave. Submissives are always naked in my playroom and as of right now, that’s what you are. Meet me in there in ten minutes. You can undress in my bedroom.”

•   •   •

I
t was funny the things your brain thought sometimes, she decided as she walked to the playroom minutes later. Like, if she got undressed in his room, where did he get ready? Did he even have to get ready? Would he be naked?

Then of course, there were the thoughts she expected. How odd it was to be walking around his house naked. The excitement with a touch of trepidation at the fact that she was naked and on her way to his playroom.

The door to the playroom was open, and though Daniel stood inside waiting, he wasn’t where her eyes were drawn. Instead, she looked to the far corner where the whipping post had stood the previous weekend.

It wasn’t there.

She glanced around the rest of the room, but couldn’t find it.

“Come on inside, kitten, you won’t find what you’re looking for.”

If someone had told her the day before that someone calling her “kitten” would be a turn-on, she’d have called him a liar. Yet somehow, when Daniel said it, it made her feel sexy and strong.

“Punctual, I see.”

She wasn’t sure if the no-talk rule of the previous weekend still applied, so she decided to be quiet until told otherwise.

“Come stand next to me.”

He had changed, she noted. Or more aptly, he’d taken his sweater and shoes off, but left his jeans on. His eyes traveled over her body as she approached.

“So beautiful without those clothes.” The back of his hand brushed her breast and she leaned into his touch. “Mmm, you’ll have to earn the pets, kitten,” he said, removing his hands.

She almost whimpered; she wanted his touch so badly.

“Next time I have you meet me in here,” he continued, “I want you kneeling, like this.”

He dropped to his knees, butt resting on his heels. His hands each cupped a knee, and his head was bowed. He looked up. “You try.”

She knelt like he had, trying to get her body in the same position. Daniel came behind her, straightened her back, ensured her shoulders were square. Then he stood before her and separated her knees a bit with his foot.

He was silent for so long, she almost looked up. In fact, she’d decided to do just that when he finally spoke.

“A submissive is not weak because a Dominant controls her. A submissive is strong because she surrenders her power to him willingly.” He rested his hand on the top of her head. “It is not a power a Dominant should take lightly. Rather he should guard it as he would his life and when he returns it, she should feel her power increased because of his care.”

Kneeling before him like she was, it finally made sense to her. It did take strength to submit. While it was difficult on some level to be on her knees before someone, it also felt oddly right. She took a deep breath and allowed all the preconceived notions she’d held to disappear.

Daniel must have sensed a change in her somehow, because at her exhalation he simply whispered, “That’s my girl.”

His words washed over her body, spreading warmth, almost as if he’d touched her.

Then his hand stroked her shoulder and playful Daniel was back. “Stand up and come with me, kitten.”

He led her to the padded table she’d looked over the weekend before. Interesting, but nothing scary. It looked rather like a twin-sized bed, covered with leather. He patted the surface. “Hop up.”

Much like he did when she knelt for him, he positioned her the way he wanted her. This time on her back.

“There are straps out to your side. Reach out, grab, and hold on. Keep your legs here,” he said, separating them slightly. “Your job is to not move. Understood?”

She took a strap in each hand and took a deep breath. “Yes, sir.”

“Relax,” he said, softly brushing her cheek, his thumb trailing along her eyelid. “Close your eyes and concentrate on the sensations and not moving.”

His hands moved in an unexpected massage, lightly across her face, down her shoulders, and up her arms. Then back the other way. Over and over he caressed her as she sank deeper into the leather.

So caught up was she in the sensation of his touch, she jerked when his finger unexpectedly grazed her nipple.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk,” he said, and his hands were gone.

She had to fight not to open her eyes in an attempt to find him. Surely he hadn’t left. But he wasn’t touching her and it was so quiet.

The seconds dragged on.

“Let’s try again,” he said, low and soft, and right by her side.

Once more he started his sensual massage and when he next brushed over a nipple, she remained still.

“Good girl.” There was a flicker of warmth where he’d touched her and then his mouth replaced his fingers, sucking.

She whimpered, but remained still.

“Such a good girl,” he said. “I think my kitten needs a reward.” His lips trailed across her skin until he reached her other breast and he suckled that nipple. He teased her with his lips and tongue, gently palming one side of her while kissing the other.

Then he bit oh so slightly on her nipple and it felt so good, she lifted herself up for more.

He didn’t say a word, but moved away and she was empty and alone and cold without him. She tried to feel his presence, but she had no sense of him, couldn’t judge where he was. The very air in the room stood still.

Steeling her body, she willed him to return and vowed not to move again.

But there was nothing but silence.

Just when she’d convinced herself the session was over, he stroked her hair and she sighed.

“Better now?”

“Yes, sir,” she said, thrilled to have his hands on her again.

He kept himself contained to the upper part of her body, never venturing past her waist, but setting every nerve ending she had aflame as he worked his sensual magic on her skin. It felt as if every caress reverberated between her legs, and she wondered if she could come from breast play alone.

“You’re being so good, kitten,” he whispered against her skin. “I’m going to keep going.”

Though she pretty much knew what he meant, it still took all the strength she could muster up to stay still when he haphazardly dragged a fingertip from her belly button, down lower, tracing between her legs. The second pass was heavier. The third time, he dipped a finger into her.

She sucked in a breath, but remained still.

“Such a good girl.”

He added a second finger and began stroking in and out of her body. Every stroke had him going just a bit deeper, and her body tensed with the effort to be still.

I can do this.

I can do this.

I can do this.

She had almost convinced herself of it when his thumb started brushing her clit with every inward thrust. Her legs trembled. She couldn’t do it.

“Orange. Fuck, yellow.”

She felt a little bad for saying it, but decided it was more important he knew.

His fingers didn’t stop. “Open your eyes, kitten. Look at me.”

When she met his gaze, he was smiling. “You’re doing so well. Keep your eyes on me.” His fingers moved deeper, his thumb brushed harder, and his eyes pierced her with their intensity. She couldn’t look away. “Keep watching me. That’s it. Good girl. A little bit more and you’re going to come.”

It built inside her, swirling, wave after wave, almost crashing. Caught between his gaze and his fingers, she let it come and sweep her along. He pushed three fingers inside and with a final rough swipe to her clit, she came with a yelp, her release made all the more powerful by the strain to be still.

As her climax passed, she closed her eyes and sighed. Bliss. Her entire body felt completely blissed out. She never wanted to leave the table. The feeling only intensified as Daniel started stroking her arms.

He gently pried her hands free from the straps. “Let go, kitten.”

She had no idea she’d been grasping them so tightly until he helped her flex her fingers.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Can you sit up?”

She slowly worked herself into a sitting position and Daniel moved so that he stood at the foot of the table, between her legs. He lightly placed his hands on her upper thighs.

“How do you feel?” he asked.

“Mmm,” she hummed. “Weightless and floaty.”

He dug his fingers into her hair, massaging her scalp. She nearly purred.

“I lied, you know,” she said.

She didn’t realize the impact of her words until she saw the shock cross his face. Even then his voice was calm when he replied. “Lied about what, kitten?”

She turned her head into his hand and brushed her lips across his palm. “About not being putty.”

He laughed. “Oh?”

“I’m complete putty in your hands.”

He lowered his head and whispered against her lips, “I’d hoped that might be the case,” before capturing her lips with his.

•   •   •

J
ulie thought it might have just been her imagination, but something seemed off with Sasha. Maybe it was her relationship with Peter, though things appeared to be moving right along on that front. It just didn’t seem normal for Sasha not to beg for every detail of Julie’s weekend with Daniel.

Late Thursday afternoon, Sasha was making calls in the back when the front door chimed. Julie swallowed a groan. She wanted to get home, curl up on the couch, and talk to Daniel. They’d been chatting by phone every night and met for lunch on Tuesday. The more and more she got to know Daniel and spend time with him, the more she was willing to admit to herself that she was falling for him. When you paired that with what she was learning about her craving to submit? It made her shiver thinking about how everything seemed to be falling into place.

Unfortunately, before she could talk with Daniel, she had to deal with the late-arriving customer.

Julie stopped cold in the middle of the room when she saw who it was.

Dena, the submissive she’d seen at the group meeting, stood before her. The one Daniel was quick to call for help. The one who called him “Master Covington.”

One look at the tall blonde walking into her shop proved she wasn’t the only one who remembered.

“Oh, it’s you,” Dena said, with a thinly veiled curiosity and a tilt to her head. “I’m here to see Sasha.”

“She’s on the phone, but she’ll be out soon.”

Julie looked the willowy woman over quickly. She didn’t have a collar on, and a glance at her wrist showed no cuff.

Dena smiled as if she knew what Julie was doing. “I’m unattached right now.”

“Sorry,” Julie said. “I didn’t know I was that obvious. I’m new.”

“Dena,” the blonde said, sticking out her hand. “I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself at the meeting.”

“Julie,” she said, shaking the offered hand.

The conversation died there and they stood in an uncomfortable silence. Too many thoughts were crowding in Julie’s head all at once. What was the history between Daniel and Dena? Assuming there was history. Why was it Dena had never stopped by to see Sasha before?

And speaking of her friend, what was taking Sasha so long?

Dena still watched her with a curious expression.

“Have I grown a third head?” Julie finally said. “Because I’m pretty sure you’ve seen a submissive woman or two before.”

Dena laughed. “Sorry, it’s just—” She shook her head. “I had to see.”

“See what?”

“We’re a close group, those of us who’ve been around for a while. You’ll have to forgive us if we gossip.” She leaned over and whispered, “The Doms are the worst.”

Julie lifted an eyebrow. Dena hadn’t answered the question.

“You’re gorgeous and you have spunk. No wonder he’s so taken with you.”

Dena’s words hit her so hard, Julie actually took a step backward. “Daniel? Gossips?”

“No, not Daniel,” Dena said with a wave of her hand. “But some of the others are like old women. Just don’t tell them I said that, it’ll be our little secret.”

Julie smiled. She had a feeling she would get along just fine with Dena. “Let’s start over. Hi, I’m Julie. Why don’t we sit down and you tell me about yourself, because you obviously know everything about me.”