“Hello?”
Mom. “Well, glad to see you’re alive.”
Shayla cringed. “Sorry I haven’t called lately. I’ve been busy.”
“Busy doing what? You haven’t even updated your Facebook status in a week.”
That was true, although she had commented on some friends’ pictures. “I’ve just got a lot going on. Work, friends—”
“Friends? So tell me about your new friends.”
Shayla felt the blush coloring her cheeks even though she wasn’t face-to-face with her mom. “Just some really nice people I met while working on a story. They’ve…sort of adopted me.”
“James called us yesterday.”
Out of the blue, Shayla’s heart sank. Her good mood faded. “What the hell did he want?” she snapped.
She could tell from her mother’s tone she wasn’t happy about receiving the call, either. “He was asking about you. If we’d heard from you.”
“So that’s why you called me? Great. Thanks.”
“No, but I did want to talk to you and make sure you were doing all right.”
“I’m fine. What else did he want?”
“He told me he’s paying you back.”
“He sent me a check for five hundred last week, yes. I won’t say he’s paying me back until he’s completely paid me back in full. Considering his craptacular track record in keeping promises I won’t hold my breath. What did you tell him about me?”
“I chewed him out for trying to use us to get information about you. That if he wanted to talk to you, he needed to talk to you himself.”
Her heart soared that her mom was still taking her side. “I don’t want to talk to him.”
“That much I figured. I wouldn’t want to talk to him, either, if I were in your shoes.” She sighed. “I just wish you hadn’t up and moved so suddenly. I’m worried about you.”
Shayla looked around her apartment. “Mom, honestly? I’m fine. I’m better than I’ve been in a long time. It’s cheaper living down here than up there. I’ll be okay.”
“Your father was talking about taking a weekend to come down and visit you.”
“And check up on me?” She smiled despite her tone.
Her mom laughed. “Yes, of course. He’s worried, too.”
“I don’t have a big apartment, Mom. You guys would have to stay at a hotel.”
“I know. You know your father. He won’t take a vacation, but a chance to check up on his little girl, he’ll jump at that. He didn’t worry as much when you lived in the same city as your brother.”
Shayla reached up to scratch at her throat and remembered the collar. She blushed despite her mom not being able to see her.
Thank god we don’t Skype!
“I’ll look around and find a couple of good hotels to choose from. Summer’s their slow time down here.”
“Thanks, sweetheart.” She paused. “You’re really okay?”
“I’m really okay, Mom. Honestly. I’m done keeping secrets.”
Well, okay, except about getting my ass beaten last night. They damn sure don’t need to know about that.
“I wish I had told you guys what James did the first time.”
“Quit beating yourself up over it.”
“That’s what everyone keeps saying, but I don’t seem to be able to do it.”
* * * *
She didn’t have any trouble following the directions Tony e-mailed her.
Along with his address and how to get to his house, he’d included two instructions.
No panties, and to wear a sundress or skirt.
Both instructions had left her clit throbbing and her pussy wet.
He lived off Bee Ridge Road, east of I-75. He lived in a community of large homes situated on even larger pieces of land, most of them several acres each, and many of which held grazing cattle or horses. He met her at the front door.
“Looks like you found it all right, pet,” he said, his gaze traveling to her collar before meeting her eyes.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Come in.” As she stepped through the door, he rested his hand on the back of her neck, on the collar. Not roughly, but firmly.
Authoritatively.
Possessively.
He shut the door and led her into the house. Tastefully decorated, it didn’t look like a Dom lived there, if she had to guess. And something smelled delicious.
“Let me give you the tour,” he said, his hand never leaving the collar as he showed her throughout the house.
Four bedrooms, three and a half baths. Huge eat-in kitchen, with separate dining and family rooms. A home office. Tile throughout, with gorgeous throw rugs scattered here and there.
If she had to venture a guess, the house alone was probably worth over half a mil.
He saved the best for last, leading her through the kitchen, through a utility room, to a door locked with an electronic combination lock. “The playroom.”
He punched a four-digit code into the lock. It let out a beep and he led her into what turned out to be his personal dungeon. It held a St. Andrew’s Cross, two different spanking benches in different styles, a suspension bar similar to the one at the club, and racks of implements, among other things.
He pointed at another door. “That just leads out to the rest of the garage. I used to have a classroom area in there, but after Kaden died, Seth and I both lost the heart to teach here. Too many memories, for me at least, of Kaden. That, and frankly, liability. It’s easier for us to teach at the club.” He turned to her. “What do you think, pet?”
She knew her racing heart had nothing to do with fear. “It’s very nice, Sir.”
He chuckled. “Turn around and show me your marks, pet.”
She turned and hiked up the skirt of her sundress. She didn’t move when his hand caressed her flesh. “Very nice. What do you think? Too much?”
She shook her head, her cheeks burning. “Not too much, Sir.”
“Keep that skirt up.” He gently pulled her glasses off and put them on a shelf. Then he took hold of the back of her collar and led her over to one of the spanking benches. He pushed her down and over it, her ass exposed. “I really enjoyed spanking your ass last night, pet. So another rule is that when we’re together, I will be giving you a greeting spanking. As long as we’re not in public, of course.”
Her throat felt like it might close up from the rush of moisture that had fled her mouth for her cunt. “Yes, Sir,” she squeaked.
He chuckled. “Good girl.” He wasted no time, holding her pinned by the collar as he spanked her hard and fast. She didn’t bother keeping track of the strokes and he didn’t seem to mind her crying out as he stepped up the spanking. Then he stopped, his hand soothing her ass. “Such a good girl,” he softly cooed. “I’m very proud of you for taking that, pet.”
She didn’t move, could barely breathe. She knew she’d let him beat her all night long to keep feeling like this, to keep hearing that tone of voice from him.
Is this subspace again?
If it was, she never wanted it to end.
His hand stopped in the center of her ass, fingers pointing down the seam, almost but not quite brushing her pussy. “Well, pet certainly enjoyed that.”
Her face couldn’t get any hotter, could it? “Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
He chuckled. Then one finger probed between her labia, easily slipping inside her. “Oh, pet is very, very wet. I have something I think you’ll enjoy.”
She couldn’t suppress her disappointed groan when he removed her hand.
He patted her ass. “Don’t worry. You stay right here. Do not move a muscle.”
She froze as he released her. She didn’t move her head to look but could hear him open a cabinet and rummage around for something. He softly hummed while he searched for what he wanted before returning a moment later.
“Don’t move, pet.” He belted something around her waist and cinched it snug. More straps encircled her upper thighs, and the last went between her legs. Before he buckled the last strap, however, he inserted something into her pussy. Something large and round. She moaned as he slowly worked it back and forth between her labia, coating it with her juices before fucking it into her a little at a time.
Then he pushed it all the way inside her. She felt her body greedily suck it into her cunt. He secured the last strap, which rubbed against her clit and didn’t help her situation.
Walking around in front of her, he knelt so they were eye to eye. He held up a small remote control. “You don’t come unless I give you permission. If you come without permission, it’s five hard and painful strokes with this.” He held up a rattan cane in his other hand. “Understand, pet?”
She nodded, a little fearfully now.
He must have sensed it, because his eyes crinkled in amusement. “Either way, it’s win-win for us both. The sadist in me is thrilled, and the masochist wanting to come out in you will be happy.”
Then he thumbed a button on the remote. She jumped as what turned out to be a vibrating egg sprang to life inside her. She whimpered and thrust her hips uncontrollably as he played with the settings, working it back and forth from high to low, different pulsation patterns, until he settled on one he was happy with. “That should be just uncomfortable enough to keep you distracted, pet,” he said as he stood. He put the remote in his pocket and held out a hand to help her up.
On shaky legs, she stood. Her skirt fell down.
He chuckled. “Okay, pet. I think the dress needs to go. Don’t you?”
She nodded. “Yes, Sir.” Her arms trembled as she struggled to pull it over her head while the deviously evil egg continued throbbing inside her.
Fuck.
She also realized she didn’t care if coming without permission earned her strokes.
Although she did want to obey him.
He took the dress from her and hung it over the back of a chair so it wouldn’t wrinkle. “Shoes off, too, pet.”
She had to hold on to him for support as she removed one sandal, then the other.
When she was naked, except for her collar and the harness keeping the egg from sliding out of her pussy, he hooked a finger through the front ring of her collar and pulled her close. “How’s my pet?”
“Green, Sir,” she whispered.
“Good girl.” He kissed her forehead.
“Sir?”
“Yes, pet?”
She belatedly realized her question sounded silly. “Why haven’t you kissed me on the lips yet?”
He cocked his head a little to the side as he met her gaze. When he answered, his voice sounded quiet. “As silly as this might sound,” he gently said, “I consider that a very intimate part of sex. Of making love. Like I told you, I don’t want to be a douche. As your Dominant, unless or until you decide you want to put sex on the table, I won’t do that. I consider what we do, like this, not to be sex. It’s play. Sexual, yes. Sex? No. Making love? No. I don’t even consider oral sex to be the same level of intimacy. Or strap-on play.”
He stroked her cheek with his thumb and she had to fight to concentrate and keep her eyes open as she nuzzled him. “Kissing,” he continued, “to me, is intimate. It’s saved for when two people have made a commitment to each other. Does that make sense?”
She nodded. It made perfect sense.
It also made her want him to kiss her even more.
He smiled. “How’s my pet?”
“Green, Sir.”
He reached into his pocket and adjusted the egg’s pattern. She let out a moan and struggled not to come as her body finally acclimated to it.
He grinned. “That’s my good girl.”
He released her collar and pointed to the floor. “Greeting, pet.”
She slowly sank to her knees, trying to angle her body in such a way that the despicable egg didn’t press directly on her G-spot and send her spasming into an orgasm. He laughed as he watched her kiss his feet and the backs of his hands, well aware of the discomfort she was in. “Problem, pet?”
“No, Sir.” Somehow, she managed.
And when she nuzzled the front of his jeans, there was no mistaking the iron bulge pressing against the inside of his zipper.
At least I’m not the only one who’s horny.
Tony struggled not to laugh at her predicament. She was adorable, trying so hard to obey him. He reached into his pocket and adjusted the egg’s remote again to slow it down and give her a little respite. He stroked the back of her head with the other, enjoying the feel of her warm cheek pressing against his engorged cock through his jeans.
“Pet, do you realize I came home and rubbed not one, but two out, after you left the club last night?”
“Sorry, Sir.”
“Oh, don’t apologize. I’m just returning the favor,” he teased. “I’m sure I’ll be rubbing more out later on. I haven’t felt this horny in a long while.” He belatedly realized what he’d said and wished he could take it back. It was okay for him to think and feel that way.
He just didn’t want to admit it to her and scare her away.
Luckily, she didn’t seem put off by that. “I could help you with that, Sir.”
“Ah, what a good pet. But not tonight. Maybe one day. Tonight, after dinner, I’m going to give you another spanking to warm that sweet ass of yours, and then I’m going to introduce you to my stunt cock.”