The Shy Dominant (7 page)

“I asked Taz for, um… I don’t know what I’m doing here.”

She wanted to tell Fred he was doing just fine, but she felt his edginess. He wasn’t comfortable yet with this domineering side of himself.

“I’ve been in that bar all night, bored out of my skull. I came to lend a hand.” Taz reached out, and without hesitation, Dharma took his hand. One quick look at Fred and she saw a look of fascination.
He likes to watch.
But she sensed that if Taz did anything he didn’t like, he’d take over as coolly as he did as chief at the fire hall.

“Up.” Taz ordered and Dharma found herself sitting on the hood of Fred’s SUV. “Relax,” Taz chided.

She let herself fall back onto her elbows, all too conscious of the concentrated stares of both men on her open body.

Teasingly, she lifted one leg, flashing them both. She had never been a shy person and she loved this.

She saw Fred’s hands ball into fists, as if he were keeping himself off her only with an effort.

“Bad girl.” Taz lightly slapped her thigh. “You do that only when we ask for it.”

She wet her lips but then nodded. Not at Taz, but at Fred since she was
his
.

His eyes darkened, the pupils large and black, swallowing her reflection as she lay spread out on his vehicle.

Taz looked at Fred. “May I touch?”

“Yes,” Fred agreed tersely. He didn’t look away from Dharma. She knew if she had any doubts about what was going to happen, he’d listen to her. He’d stop Taz.

But she’d been telling the truth about Fred’s fantasies. They intrigued her. She wanted to experiment.

Taz grazed her leg lightly with a fingertip. The touch was gentle, but it made her jump in surprise.

“Careful,” Fred growled.

“You’re definitely her daddy, aren’t you?” Taz said with amusement. He looked at Dharma. “He didn’t take his eyes off you for a second all night.”

Fred gave Taz a cool look that seemed to say ‘
Don’t push me’.

It was delicious, being owned by Fred, even if it was only for this night, for this moment. Delicious to imagine him watching her, ready to intervene if any of the customers got too friendly.

“Spread yourself wider, honey,” Taz said.

Colour burned Fred’s cheeks, but he watched, rapt, as she obeyed. For her part, she only had eyes for him. Taz felt like a sexy extension of this man she was so hung up on.

When Taz touched her, she cried out, “
Fred!
Goddess, Fred…”

Breathing hard, Fred loomed over her, watching her face as Taz stroked her, teased her. She instantly lit up, riding the edge.

“You’re my woman.
Mine
to share.”

She’d never imagined a surrender could be so total, so extreme. She’d played light bondage games, a little spanking, but she’d never imagined letting herself be given to another by the man dominating her.

No wonder Fred thought his fantasies were too dark. They were, dark and wild so that she trembled, her body glistening with her obvious arousal.

“Put a finger in her,” Fred ordered Taz.

She gasped as Taz complied, rubbing her almost harshly, just the way she liked. Fred stroked her hair as Taz saw to her pussy, rubbing and playing so that she dug her nails into the hood, her body screaming to come.

“I want to fuck her. Now,” Taz growled.

A forbidden thrill raced through her as Taz looked not at her, but at Fred.

“No.” Fred looked into her eyes. “Come for us. Do it now. Make it good for me as I watch you.”

Taz speared two fingers into her, giving her a careless caress. Legs splayed wide, bared to them both, Dharma let herself go, her neck arching as she cried out hoarsely, riding every bit of pleasure Taz offered at Fred’s direction.

After, she just lay there, trembling, her body feeling the aftershocks. She’d never come so hard and Fred hadn’t even touched her. And yet this had somehow all been about him.

She felt completely mastered for the first time in her life.

Fred reached out and lifted her into his arms, holding her as if he treasured her.

She didn’t see Taz as Fred placed her carefully in the passenger seat. She figured he’d already split, leaving her to Fred. “I thought I’d take the bus,” she said groggily.

“Like hell.” Fabric on her ankles, smoothing up her legs. Fred was replacing her clothing, caring for her.

Unexpected tears stung her eyes again. She gritted her teeth, forcing them back. Why was she so emotional? When Fred put her skirt back on, his hands gentle but awkward on the tiny clasp, she watched him, feeling herself ache…to be held? Is that what she needed?

She’d never needed that before. Usually she laughed and joked after sex, but with Fred…

“I can’t believe I went that far.” He laughed, but there was an undercurrent of embarrassment in his voice. “I’m sorry.” He was back to not meeting her gaze.

She swallowed, reaching out to stroke his cheek. “It was hot, what we did.”

His gaze flew to hers. “You liked it? You like me?”

She nodded.

“I’ve never…done anything like that. God almighty!”

His bashfulness after his display of mastery was adorable.

“Me either.”

“Never?”

“Fred, I have had a spicy sex life but that was…” She didn’t have words. “I never imagined sharing something like that before. I never thought I’d find it so hot, so…liberating. But I could be like that because I knew you’d take care of me.”

“Absolutely.” His eyes shone with that inner core of steel. “Watching you like that was the hottest moment of my life.”

“But you didn’t—”

“No. I come when I’m ready to come.” His chest rose and fell hard and she could see his erection straining against his jeans, but he was in control of himself, reminding her that he was older than she was, tempered by life.

In fact, it seemed like he was making a point of how in command he was. It made Dharma wonder if what they’d just done would happen again and if it did, could she tempt him somehow into coming with her? Would he fill her, take her against the car?

The thought made arousal burn again, hotter this time. Her body was already throbbing, already pleasured, but she hungered for more.

She was desperate for more.

He got in the truck, looked at her and raised a brow.

She buckled herself in.

Fred might be shy, but he was definitely in the driver’s seat.

As they drove in silence, she stole glances at him, feeling an unaccustomed reserve fall between them. She wanted to ask him if they would be together again soon. Like…how about now, when he took her home?

He stopped in front of her dilapidated apartment, giving it an annoyed look as if he’d like to single-handedly fix the place up for her. “Is that place even up to code?”

“Yes. And you ask me that every time you come here.”

“I want better for you.”

She licked her lips, squirming in her seat. “Do you?” Her voice came out husky.

He looked at her and his lips curled into a sly smile. He unbuckled her belt, a total gentleman, damn him, leaving her even more desperate. She wanted to climb onto his lap.

“Fred…”

“Miss me tonight.”

She bit her lip.

He reached down between her legs and cupped her, squeezed her. She moaned, arching, losing herself.

“Good girl.” He reached around her and thrust open the door for her.

She was about to snap at him when he brushed a finger down her cheek. The gesture was sweet and old-fashioned, and she craved it as much as she had the one he’d just given to her sex.

“You better serve my coffee tomorrow morning, Dharma. I like to see your face.”

Throat tight, she nodded. “I like to see yours.”

Somehow she climbed out of his SUV.

Of course, being Fred, he waited until she was safely in her apartment with her door locked before he drove off.

Chapter Six

Dharma’s heart raced when she found Fred and Taz waiting for her after her shift ended the following night. She’d spotted them in the bar earlier, passing the time playing pool. It had made her edgy, wondering how they’d play tonight.

All she could think of now was how she was dying to come. She’d tried a half dozen times to bring herself off in bed the night before or in the shower, but she’d been distracted and rushed and irritable because she wanted Fred there
with
her.

Tonight there was a solidarity about the two men, as if they’d worked out what they planned for her. Taz took her arm, guiding her to Fred’s SUV. “Get in the back,” he ordered while Fred went around to the driver’s side.

Mouth dry, Dharma obeyed.

Fred did a U-turn and they drove down the highway until he turned off on a dirt road. She heard the crash of surf and felt the warm air through her open window. Neither man looked at her or spoke to her, which only heightened her arousal and suspense. What were they going to do with her?

When they came to a stop in a deserted spot, Taz turned and looked her in the eye. “Strip off your clothes and then climb out of the truck. Oh, leave the shoes on. I like the heels.”

Her heart gave a thump
at the coolly phrased instructions. She felt giddy, unfettered the way she’d been when she first began to paint and every colour was singing for her to use it.

Hands shaking, she pulled off her tank top then her skirt and thong. Since she hadn’t worn a bra, that left only her red heels.

She was still trembling finely as she exited the SUV, feeling foolish to be so…nervous?

The wind was cooler now against her bare skin. It felt like a touch. She crunched over gravel, walking to where Fred and Taz waited for her.

“Hold your hands out,” Taz said.

And all the time he was giving her orders, Fred watched.

She held up her wrists and Taz tied them quickly and expertly. Then he walked around her, as if inspecting her. The second time he circled, he grazed her nipples with the back of his hand, making her body jolt.

“You aren’t to move unless we say you can.” He put his hands on her waist and lifted her, actually lifted her as easily as if she were a child and placed her with her front leaning against the warm hood of the SUV.

A second later he kicked her feet wider then pushed her so she was plastered against the vehicle, the position completely exposing her pussy lewdly to their gazes.

And she felt them looking. She wanted to moan and squeeze her thighs together, but she knew they would not permit it.

She belonged to them now.

More gravel crunched and Fred moved so he was standing directly opposite her. He leaned over the hood, took her hands in his. He was blushing fiercely, but his gaze was just as fierce.

What was Taz going to do to her while Fred watched? She was dying to know.

Fred took her hands. “You, ah, indicated you wanted me to push you over my desk one day and spank you.”

Humour and tenderness for him warmed her. “I indicated?” Oh, he was adorable when he wasn’t intimidating.

“Yeah.”

“Is Taz going to spank me?” Her voice got husky at the end of the sentence. “While you watch?”

“Taz is going to use a riding crop.” As if he was worried she’d shut him down, Fred added. “He’s teaching me how to use one. I wouldn’t risk your skin until I can handle it.”

“A riding crop?” Her heart jumped again. Part fear, part thrill.

Eyes heavy lidded, Fred whispered. “You’ve never played with one?”

She shook her head.

“We need to know if you’ll let us try this. You have to tell us.”

Deeper waters. She wasn’t sure what would happen if she allowed herself to go there. But Dharma had always prided herself in being adventurous. She nodded.

“Say it, Dharma.”

She licked her lips. “Yes, I want to try.”

Her hands were cold and shaking slightly. She gripped Fred tightly, absurdly grateful for his lifeline.

“I’m right here. I want you to look in my eyes the entire time. If it ever gets too much, if you need to stop, all you need to do is pump my hand twice. Understand?”

“Yes.”

Something hard and cool traced her spine, moving from one vertebra to the next in an unhurried fashion. Because she couldn’t see what Taz was doing, she died a little each second.

And Fred was watching it all, his lips parted, his eyes a dark midnight blue. She felt him with her.

When Taz ran the crop down the open slit of her body she gasped, shuddering at the solid feel, at the intention and authority she could feel humming through it from Taz to her.

She heard it whistle then there was a bright hot flash of pain on her right buttock. The sound, the impact made her think of that first moment when you dropped something on a frying pan. Her body arched and sound whispered through her lips. “Ahhhhh.”

“Don’t close your eyes.
Look at me
,” Fred commanded.

Her eyes snapped open and it was so intimate to look into him and feel him looking into her. She was more naked this way than she’d ever been in her life. He could see everything, read everything so she was an open book in his palm. He could move her from page to page and all she could do was surrender and be open to him, to this moment, to the sound of the crop falling, the strike, the hot sizzle of pain, the satisfaction of it as it bloomed on her skin like the toughest kiss.

Her submission turned her on as much as anything else. The almost-humiliation of being naked while both men were clothed. She was liberated by every gasp Taz made her utter, by the spill of a tear that wanted to fall, the soft rain of the crop, heating her like a warm bath would until it was hotter, hotter, until she writhed and tears were falling onto the hands she clasped to Fred’s.

All along he was both observer—which was so sexy—and participant, as if part of him ate up every pained cry she gave, rode the same edge of harrowing desire.

“Stop.”

The voice was like water hitting her face, soft but with as much impact as Taz’s strikes. She saw Fred looking at Taz, sensed they were silently communicating, but she felt oddly peaceful while her body hummed, her fingers curling, the throbbing pain of her ass, the neediness between her legs.

“We’re both going to fuck you,” Fred said.