Authors: Brynn Paulin
“You’ll be there?”
She glanced at Josh. A different guilt resonated in her middle, a dull, insidious emptiness that grew as realization of what she had to do grew. “Yes.”
Her father heaved a relieved breath. “Shall I come to get you?” he asked in a brighter voice.
“No. I’ll talk to you later.” She flipped the phone shut then turned off the power.
She wouldn’t have her father hustling her away from Josh again. It was bad enough she’d have to leave before they’d even really started.
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“Josh—”
“I don’t want to hear about it,” he snapped.
“But—”
“But nothing. That man stole years from us, Tempest. I don’t care what he said.
He’s your father so you need to talk to him, but I don’t want to hear what he has to say.”
“But I have to—”
“You don’t have to do anything but be with me, Tempest.” Scooping her into his arms, he drowned her protests with his mouth. He had her almost mindless by the time he reached the bathroom with her. Beneath the shower’s prickling spray, Josh reminded her of all the reasons she didn’t want to leave him. Thankfully, the water cascading over her hid her tears.
* * * * *
Dread plagued Tempest until the next morning when she woke. What could be mocked her as she imagined waking in his arms every morning for the rest of her life. If only… But “if only” only made things worse. How many times had she thought that in her head? If only her mother hadn’t died. If only her father hadn’t remarried that woman who hated Tempest. If only she could lose those stupid extra pounds clinging to her. If only she’d spoken her mind. If only she hadn’t let her father drag her from Josh…
That wondering had never served her. It had opened big gaping holes in her psyche.
Slipping free of Josh’s grasp around her wrist, she got up to make coffee. The caffeine might ease the ache throbbing in her head. Nothing would help her throbbing heart.
If only he’d listen to her and she could explain. If only…those damned words again.
There was no if only. There was just reality. And her reality said she had to leave.
Today.
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Standing before the untouched coffeepot on the dresser, she curled her arms under her breasts and stared in the mirror. Signs of Josh’s loving marked her body. She smiled faintly touching a red mark on her shoulder. She liked his mark. It would be permanently on her soul marking her as his even when they parted. Staring at the inky circles beneath her eyes, she momentarily considered dealing with her father then returning to Josh. She immediately shoved the idea away. It wouldn’t work. Josh wouldn’t forgive her for choosing her family over him again.
Despair roiled in her stomach. What had happened to her plans and the independence she’d so desperately wanted when she’d come to Josh to obliterate him from her mind? She’d wanted to be free. To be independent. Now she just wanted to be his.
With Josh, she would be free.
He’d encourage her dreams. He’d support her as no one else ever had. With him, she felt desirable and confident. She belonged because she was his.
Then why, dear God, did she have to leave him? She took a wobbling breath. She’d always second guess her independence if she left things as they were with her father.
She needed to deal with him before she could truly be free. Otherwise she’d always feel she had run away. He’d retain control over her complete freedom. He might never understand, but at least she’d know she’d tried and she’d had her say. He’d know where she stood.
She shifted her gaze to the man lying in the bed behind her. He was so strong and determined. He had overcome a lot. As he moved seamlessly through life, few knew the battles he’d fought and conquered. She knew. As the baby brother of the Cress family, he’d fought for respect from his three older brothers. He’d had to prove himself and claim his place as an equal. He’d had to gain respect. He had even overcome dyslexia.
And she was worried about confronting her father?
Josh stirred, sitting up anxiously when he realized she wasn’t with him. She smiled at him in the mirror. His hair tangled wildly around his head and a mark from the 80
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pillow creased his cheek. He rubbed a hand over his face as he met her gaze in the mirror, relief filling his eyes.
“Hi,” she whispered around the knot in her throat.
“Come back to bed,” he urged in a rough morning voice.
Banging on the door stopped her. Her eyes went wide as the sound startled her.
Her father couldn’t possibly have found her. This was too much like last time.
“Mr. Cress,” a voice called. “I’m here about your truck.”
Josh jumped out of bed while relief filled her. “I’ll be right there,” he called. “Thank God,” he said to Tempest, giving her a quick kiss before yanking on his pants. “We’ll be able to get out of here today.”
She nodded mutely. She was going home today. He just didn’t know it.
Josh dashed out to meet the mechanic while she mulled over her situation. She rushed into the bathroom for some essential hygiene. Afterward, she pulled on another set of the lacy lingerie Josh had gotten her, promising herself she’d buy herself some when she got home. She liked the way they made her feel. Feminine and desirable. Josh sure liked her in them. She dressed in a cropped blouse that ended just above her waist and another pair of jeans, then pulled out the purse she’d shoved in her suitcase when they’d packed at Josh’s home.
After dragging a brush through her hair, she opened the curtains to let in sunlight then sat at the table. A holder near the window held a pad of paper and a pen.
Removing them, she stared out the window at Josh talking to the mechanic next to the open hood of the truck.
I’m sorry
, she wrote.
I have to go home. I’ll never regret my time with you. I don’t want it
to end, but it must.
She frowned at the inadequate and wholly pathetic note. She couldn’t do better, not without succumbing to the ache inside her and breaking down. She stared at the words.
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All my love, Tempest
, she added. Quickly, she folded it and shoved it in her purse.
When they went to town later, she’d hire a car and go home. She glanced again at Josh.
If only he would listen to her. If only… if only, if only, if only! She didn’t have time for it.
Getting up, she straightened the room so Josh wouldn’t have to after she was gone.
She stowed her dirty clothes in a laundry bag in her luggage and picked up their food boxes. She flushed as she picked up the sauce container. She’d never think of sweet and sour sauce the same way again. The jar thunked into the trashcan. Picking up the nearby spoon, she tucked it into her purse.
She shook her head. A spoon…her only reminder of this trip.
Her fingers splayed over her neck. Being able to take Josh’s collar would have been better. He hadn’t given it to her though. She sighed. It was a good thing he hadn’t. She would have needed to leave that behind, too.
She jumped as he came into the room. “Marv says he can have the truck done tonight.”
“You’re back,” she said. Lame, Tempest. Lame.
Josh cocked his head. “Yeah…” His arms slipped around her and he kissed her. “It was life and death. I almost didn’t make it. Just about got eaten by a squirrel.”
“Oh no,” she replied, her words indistinct as he covered her lips again.
Immediately, her body leapt to attention. Desire settled low in her belly and she wished for one more time in his arms. Once more at his command.
“Let’s go get breakfast,” he murmured. “I think I saw that the bakery actually has Starbucks and I’m dying for a doughnut. I need some sustenance for what I have in mind for you this afternoon.”
She blushed thinking of last night. “You have a serious sweet tooth.” She trailed her fingers over his hard belly. “Better be careful.”
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“With you around, I’ll burn off the calories and more,” he laughed. “Trust me, no worries.”
She drew back. She wouldn’t be here. He talked like they had forever. They had hours.
“What is it?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Nothing. Starbucks you say? I never had my coffee this morning. I really need some.” She touched her forehead. “A bit of a headache.”
“Oh angel, I’m sorry. Let me get on a shirt and we can get going.” He rubbed his thumbs over her brow. “It’s probably this musty room.”
“Probably,” she agreed, giving him a half-smile to hide her lie. Careful of any sticky spots, she sat on the bed and watched him as he finished dressing and brushed his hair.
Quickly, he pulled it back, securing it with a rubber band at the back of his neck.
He held her hand as they left the room and headed for the woods. She adjusted the strap of her purse on her shoulder and glanced at his left hand where he’d stuck his fingers in his pocket. She could almost imagine rings on their left hands. If they’d been given the opportunity to stay together, it would have happened. They would have married. She had no doubt.
Despite their sexual preferences, they were very much like a normal couple. No one looking at them would know she liked to be tied up and he liked to dominate her. They were just a pair of people who wanted to be together and share their lives.
Just inside the tree line, she turned to him and curved the hand behind his neck. “I love you,” she whispered. Her throat constricted. She couldn’t stop the tears that flooded down her cheeks as she realized, she’d never tell him that again.
“Angel,” he exclaimed, pulling her into his arms. “Don’t cry. I’m so—oh angel…”
Speechless from the emotion filling him, he covered her lips with his. Desperate to show her what he hadn’t said, he pushed her lips apart, delving inside her mouth.
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Lifting her into his arms, he walked deeper into the woods, stopping only when he reached the secluded waterfall they’d come across the day before. Ribbons of water gushed over a ledge several feet above his head, dropping into the shallow river below.
Thankfully, it was hot for a fall day.
He set her on her feet on one of the stone slabs bordering the small river running from the waterfall. “Clothes. Off,” he said, already sliding the strap of her purse from her shoulder.
Taking deep breaths, she wiped away her tears with her fingers. “I’m fine, Josh.
You don’t need to—”
“I’m not. My sub just told me she loves me. I want to be inside her when she says it again.”
“Oh…”
Need jumped in his belly at her quiet response. Already his blood began to fill his shaft. He wanted to be in her as she screamed her declaration in rhythm with his thrusting cock. She toed off her shoes then quickly pulled off the rest of her clothes while he did the same.
“Kneel down,” he told her when he was naked. She followed his order without hesitation, instinctively placing her hands over her tailbone.
God, she was beautiful. Submissive and kneeling before him. Her knees were parted enough he could see her pink inner lips and damn if they didn’t look slick. It didn’t take discipline beyond the quiet, mental control he had over her to arouse her.
This sort of subjugation alone brought that glistening cream to her folds. His mouth watered at the remembered taste.
Digging in the pocket of his pants, he pulled out a condom packet, which he set beside them on the rock along with a length of thick, gold links.
Tempest’s brows pulled together but she didn’t speak. Instead, her teeth sank into her bottom lip.
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“Do you know what this is?” he asked.
She shook her head.
“It’s a collar. Every Cress woman—every one who’s a committed sub, anyway—
wears one just like it.” The chain appeared purely decorative, but wasn’t. Loops for bondage and submission were hidden in the design. He shifted the links. “I want you to wear mine.”
“Okay.”
“It has hidden loops,” he told her. “For bondage.”
“Useful,” she whispered, her voice taking on a husky quality that wrapped around his dick and yanked him to full attention. Her shuddering breath fanned across his groin as he stepped close.
Lifting her hair to the side, he slipped the collar into place and turned the locks on the clasp that would keep her from easily removing it. She was his. Forever.
The pleasant weight of the collar around her neck nearly brought her to tears again.
She shouldn’t have said yes, but just once she wanted to feel it and know he’d placed his claim on her. Josh ran his fingers over it.
“Beautiful.”
Reaching for his jeans, he removed the belt. Tempest’s eyes went wide. He intended to whip her?
“Lie on your side,” he instructed.
Immediately, she complied. He put their clothes in front of her. Carefully he looped the leather belt around her ankles and pulled it tight through the buckle. Drawing it upward he pulled until her legs were bent behind her then wrapped the other end of the strip around her wrists. He pressed the remainder into her fingers. “Hold on with both hands.”
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She closed her eyes, wondering why he’d trussed her up. Like this her ankles were a mere foot from her wrists. “Turn onto your belly and lie on the clothes.”
The garments partially padded the surface, but the hard surface was still firm beneath her. Josh ran his hands over her ass. “You please me, Tempest,” he said.
“Thank you, Master.”
She dropped her head onto the clothes. He’d placed his shirt there and his scent filled her senses. Spicy and masculine.
Her fingers clenched on the leather she held.
“Part your legs, angel.”
Hampered by her position, she complied as well as she could, feeling open and exposed and incredibly sensual. She shivered as Josh dripped cold river water over her and it trickled over her ass. She screeched a moment later when he slipped an icy-cold rock along her folds. Smooth from tumbling in the river, it slid easily into her, a long, wide oval. She groaned as he worked it in and out while he flicked her clit with an extended finger.