The Protege (17 page)

“So,
where is she now?”

Laura
crossed her arms before her and a guarded shadow veiled her eyes.

“I
need to know where she is.  I have to talk to her, to make her understand
what’s going on.”

Laura
remained silent, but Sebastian could see she was debating whether to talk or
not. Wanting to remain patient, he didn’t push for an answer and simply hoped
this woman would see he had Serena’s best interest at heart.

“I
know she’s safe,” she finally said. “Though I don’t believe she’s in the
healthiest of positions.”

“What
does that mean?”

Again,
Sebastian had to wait through a long and tense silence. “Damn it, where is
she?” Sebastian growled. “I’ll find out one way or another.”

Laura
pressed her lips together then looked at him, her gaze defeated and tired.
“She’s with him.”

A
strange and painful sting gripped his heart.  “What do you mean? A boyfriend?
Her ex?” The words choked him.

Letting
out a sardonic chuckle, Laura blurted out, “Ha, he’s never been much of a
boyfriend to her; the way he treated her.”

“Then
what?”

“Her
master.” The moment she’s spoken the word, Laura brought her hand over her
mouth in disbelief. “I was never supposed to tell you that, but…  My God, I
know it’s not good for her to be with him. She’s left him years ago to break
the bond and go off on her own, pursue her dreams of a music career, live a
normal life…”

Sebastian’s
eyes looked stricken. “What do you mean? Is Serena in some kind of trouble?”

Laura
cringed. “I’ve said too much already.”

Chapter 17

“
S
erena, what are you doing out in the cold?”

Standing
on the penthouse balcony that offered a magnificent view of the ocean that
gleamed under the moonlight, Serena didn’t respond to the gentle but firm voice
that called to her.  Yes, the night air was chilled and she stood wearing only
a flimsy white silk gown and silk panties, but the cold was the last thing on
her mind.

Her
taste of freedom had been brief; too brief.  She’d experienced life in a way
that was foreign to her, but she’d quickly come to savor every part of that
experience. Though she’d initially feared what awaited her outside his
protective circle, what would happen were she not bonded to him, were she not
at his side, she’d quickly surmounted that fear.

Waves
crashed far below, reminding her of the wild child that still resided inside
her; the wild child that wanted to venture far and wide, to go where she
choose, unbridled, uninhibited; to take chances, no matter the risk.

Was
she truly prepared to return inside the safety of the cage she’d known?  Did
she really want to leave behind the world she’d come to know?  This past year
she’d made friends, notably Laura, whom she cherished.  She’d gotten her feet
wet in an ocean of music and had truly had every intention of pursuing a career
in composition.  But most of all, she’d found someone who surprised her;
someone who brought out in her everything she’d always wanted to be.

Yes,
Sebastian could be difficult at times. He was demanding and his hands could be
rough while making love to her, but that passion… At the thought of his lips,
his tongue, his hands, heat swelled inside her and left a thin layer of
moisture over her chilled limbs.

Shaking
her head, she shoved those heated thoughts aside. As amusing as those
passionate nights had been, she had to accept the fact that she was a mere
plaything where he was concerned. While she’d captured him in her bed, Willow
was the one who’d captured the rest of him.

She
bit back the tears of frustration. She missed him already and knew he’d be in
her heart longer than she’d expected. That had been the mistake; allowing her
heart to warm to him.  Though their time together had been relatively short,
she’d quickly felt the strong stirrings of emotion for him. It was the one rule
she shouldn’t have crossed…getting emotionally involved with the target.
Especially in her role playing.

But
things have gotten complicated, not at all what she had anticipated. Him
getting poisoned, the apartment being ransacked, and then the attack on her.
Someone else had entered the party…someone she and her protégé Olivia, didn’t
anticipate. Plus the whole thing with Willow and the Sorensens…

Warm,
strong hands encircled her waist and the hard caress of her Master’s need
pressed into her backside, erasing all thoughts of Sebastian.  His greedy
fingers found the slit in her gown and quickly slipped under her silk panties,
knowing exactly where to touch to bring her to immediate climax. They dipped
inside, finding heat and moisture while his other hand plucked at one breast
then the other until they were both hard and attentive.

As
much as Serena loved Sebastian, she couldn’t deny the affection she had for
this man, her Master. She owed him so much and without him, she couldn’t even
imagine where she’d be; what she’d be.  Probably still on the streets where
he’d found her when she was only nineteen; probably begging, stealing, or
worse. She would have never known the luxury of his magnificent suite and all
of the spoils that came with his incredible wealth.  She would have never
tasted the exquisite joys of making love.  He’d been her first, and he’d taken
great care to teach her the intricacies of pleasure. He’d taken great pride in
molding her into his ideal sexual creature, though taking care to keep her
looking pure and innocent while she’d become a creature all men desired. And
capable of taking on many sexual roles like a seasoned actress.

“How
does this feel, Serena?” he murmured into her ear. He licked her lobe, pulled
it between his teeth and sucked.  When she remained silent, he turned her to
face him. With increased determination, his fingers plunged in deeper, seeking
the special spot that always pleased her. “What has you so silent, my beloved? 
Cat got your tongue?”

Her
lips parted and her lids fell heavily over her eyes, but the moans he awaited
failed to come.

“I’ll
remedy that fast enough,” he whispered, his voice deep, husky and commanding.
His fingers worked in perfect harmony, one reaching deep inside her while two
more played with the folds of moist skin. His free hand slipped the strap off
her shoulder, baring her breast. With hunger that bordered on savage, he
clasped his lips to her nipple and sucked for a brief moment before pulling
back to look at her. “I’ll ask you again.  How does that feel?”

“Good.”

“Good,
what?”  He reached around to soundly smack her bottom.

A
shiver of pleasure and pain shot through her.  “Good, Master.”

“What
if I stopped?”

“No.
Don’t stop.” These were the sensations that always left her weak; that always
left her begging for more. The pleasure he brought her was intoxicating and
impossible to resist, and her Master knew it all too well.  He knew how to play
her; how to tease her and how to drive her to the brink of insanity, all with
his touch.

“What
do you want me to do?”

She
wanted to be strong enough to tell him to wait. She knew it was what he truly
had in mind; to torture her with anticipation. “I want you inside me,” she
finally said. “I want you to fill me, to stroke me, to fuck me until I can’t
walk straight for weeks.”

He
chuckled, a pleased sound that resonated from deep in his chest. In one quick
motion, he pulled his fingers out of her and jacked her up onto the cement
railing that encircled the balcony. His hard fingers pried her knees apart and
he stared at her.

She
should have been afraid. So high above the beach, the street, the people who
went about their business far below, she would normally have been more
concerned with her safety than anything else.  But now that danger seemed
insignificant. It was the void left by his fingers that was unbearable. It was
the need to be touched by him that took precedence.

“I’m
not ready to plunge into you just yet.”  He sneered while his gaze swept over
her.

“Then
your mouth.”

“What
would you have me do with my mouth?”

“Taste
me. Warm me with your mouth. Make love to me with your tongue and lips.”

He
wrapped his arms around her waist and leaned over to slide his tongue under her
panties. The moment his tongue reached the sensitive nub of skin that beckoned
his touch, she quivered with joy and clung to him. Her fingers dug into his
neck while her legs wrapped around his waist.

“I
want you inside me,” she commanded. “Oh, God, how I want you inside me. I want
to feel you pounding against me.  I need…”
to forget Sebastian Sorensen
.

“Missed
me?” Her Master said. It wasn’t a question, but a statement.

“Yes,”
she breathed, writhing against his skillful tongue. “Oh, please fill me now,
Master.”

“Do
you regret leaving me, leaving this, leaving everything?” He paused his
thorough licking for a moment to run a finger down her breast, her stomach, and
into her hard.

Serena
shuddered with need and pleasure. “Yes, Master. I did.”

He
leaned in and whispered into her ears, “I gave you everything I had. Everything
I own, but it wasn’t enough.”

“I
love you for it, but it wasn’t enough,” Serena said. “I needed a life of my
own, to follow my own dreams, not be your shadow, your submissive forever.”

“But
you were born to be, Serena. We were made for each other.” He increased the
pressure and the rhythm of his fingers, causing her to moan and cry out.

“Oh,
fuck it. I was wrong. I belong with you, and you need to get your dick into me
now…Master.”

He
chuckled. “The old Serena, the hot-tempered, impatient Serena from the streets
is talking, isn’t she?”

“Yes,
and right now, she wants a good banging up the wall, right here, while stark
naked on our balcony facing the ocean. I want you to now, dammit.”

“Not
yet.” He brought his tongue back to the furthest reaches of her moistened lips
and gave her a few slow, tantalizing licks.

The
pleasure left her dizzy and giddy.

With
a throaty moan that displayed his arousal, he picked her up and brought her
inside. Her fingers dug through his thick waves of golden hair as her lips
taunted the warm skin of his neck, causing him to groan.

As
he’d done so many times before, he set her on his bed and reached for the
silken straps that’d been sewn into the four corners of the bed. With unhurried
patience, he bound one wrist, then worked at binding her other wrist, though
with more urgency. When he bound her ankles, he was clearly impatient, tying
her so tightly, she knew she’d have marks to show for it the next day.

“Now?”
she asked.

He
reached for one of her favorite silk ties; the pale green one that matched his
eyes.

“I’d
like to be able to see you, Master.”

“Not
this time.” He covered her eyes with the tie and knotted it behind her head.
“Such beautiful eyes, Serena. Men could drown in them. Make them weak with need
for you.”

“Now?”
she asked again.

“Now,
what?”

“Now,
Master.”

“Who
do you belong to?” he asked.  “Who have you always belonged to?”

“You,”
Serena replied. “I’ve always belonged to you.” She groaned in anticipation as
she heard the sound of wrapping paper being opened and the subtle sound of
latex unraveling.

A
few seconds later, she felt his weight on the bed, then felt the heat of his
skin against hers. His lips played over her skin, teasing, tickling and
arousing.  “It’s been so long since I’ve kissed you all over like this, Serena.
I want to savor it. I want to make you mine all over again. I want to make you
forget anyone and everyone who has ever come between us. Inch by tantalizing
inch.”

Unable
to wait any longer, Serena lifted her hips up toward him. “Now, Master.  Please
relieve this hunger now.”

Straightening
his arms, he held himself off her a long moment, his breath hot and heavy as he
silently tortured her. He glided his hardness through the moisture that awaited
him then plunged deep inside her.  “Like this!”

Serena
let out a feral growl as his ample hard penis filled her completely, plunging
deeper and deeper, arching his flexible muscular back. His lips caressed her
breasts, heightening the pleasure he brought her. Though she wanted to extend
the pleasure, to feel his skin against hers last all night, her body was ready
to explode within minutes.

With
an orgasmic cry that filled the room, her body shook, her hips rising up to
meet his as he, too, let out an animalistic howl.

“My
Serena.  My beautiful girl, so beautiful, so innocent, so perfectly wild right
where I need you to be.”  Releasing the ties at her wrists, he lay beside her. 
As he held her, he stroked her hair and kissed her temple.

She’d
forgotten how gentle he could be.  More often than not, he’d proven to be rough
in his love making and harsh in his demands.  He was her Master, and that was
his right.  But, occasionally, his hand was soft and loving.

For
all his gentle caresses, she knew she’d have more than one marking to remind
her of this night.  Playful bites on her shoulder would mark her for days as
would the bruising from the hard fingers that squeezed too tightly on her
thighs.

Camouflaging
those marks had become second nature to her.

“Master,”
she said with great reverence.  “When will it be my turn?”

“When
you make the switch?”

“I
have already,” she said. “Months after leaving you, I made the switch.”

“But
when it comes to me, Serena, what am I to you?”

“My
Master,” she said. “My Master, my love, my everything.”