Unconditional Surrender (12 page)

“Thank you, Master.” Her voice was soft but he could hear rampant desire in it and his balls ached with hunger for her.

“So. I’m thinking perhaps you need a punishment session for keeping me at arm’s length all this time.”

Her lips curved in a tiny smile. They both knew the decision had been a mutual one, so sex didn’t get in the way of developing their relationship. But it offered the perfect excuse to use the toys she’d selected with apparent care.

“Shall I bind you with the ropes first, girl? Would you like that?”

“If it pleases my Master then it pleases me.”

“Very well. Rise to your feet.”

He was pleased to note that the ropes she’d purchased were just like the ones he’d used at The Edge, made of silken threads so as not to bruise her skin. Marking her would come when he used the flogger and the crop.

As he’d done the other night he took each length of rope and wrapped it carefully around her torso. He took great pains to tighten the lengths above and below her breasts so they stood out more prominently. The one just above her hips he secured at her navel. Finally he wound one around her hips, took it down through the crevice between the cheeks of her ass and up between her thighs to knot the ends directly over her clit. Again she sucked in a small breath but she never lost her control. He knew the knot had to be teasing at that throbbing knot of nerves but Kari was a well-trained sub and knew all of her reactions would be commanded by him.

When he was finished he walked around her, admiring her body as well as his handiwork. He cupped her breasts individually then amused himself by pinching each dark nipple, eliciting a slight moan from her. He trailed his fingers between the cheeks of her ass and across the top of her thigh to her pussy, pushing gently on the bundle of rope pressing on her clit. He could do this for a long time, he thought, bringing her to the point where her control was nearly shredded, but he had other plans for tonight. Plans he was anxious to get to.

“I think tonight you should stand for your punishment, girl.” He knew it would require greater control on her part not to collapse under the intensity of the strokes. He was anxious to hear her answer.

There was that secretive smile again. “I think my Master is right. Shall I stand now, Sir?”

He had to swallow his own smile. She had turned into a sub with a sense of humour, adding a new dimension to their play.

“Yes, girl. Rise to your feet.”

It was awkward with her hands still clasped behind her back but somehow she managed it with incredible grace. When she’d regained her balance she stood there obediently waiting.

“I think we should begin with the crop, yes, girl? It will stripe that ass of yours so nicely.”

He bent down to lift it from the floor, caressing its length with his palm. He was so aroused he hoped he could get through all of this without stopping and plunging himself into her body. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had to reach so hard for his control. Slowly he drew the crop across the tempting cheeks of her ass, noting the tiny shiver of anticipation that raced over her skin. Then without warning he lifted his hand and brought the instrument sharply down against that skin, pleased at the bright red stripe that appeared.

“Ten,” he said. “And ten with the flogger.”

“Thank you, Sir.” She remained with her head bowed but that smile still lingered on her lips.

He counted aloud each time the solid leather instrument landed on her body, being very careful not to strike directly on the flange of the butt plug and cause her injury. She jerked with each touch but made no sound. Her eyes glistened with tears of pleasure and she bit her lip to keep from shouting out. Her very silence stimulated him and the increased number of stripes excited him, as did the flush of red that spread over her buttocks and down to her thighs. When he reached ten he tossed the crop aside, ran his hand lightly over her skin then impulsively placed a kiss on the criss-cross of marks. He grasped the rope running between those globes and tugged on it, knowing it would put increased pressure on her clit. Again she moaned softly.

Picking up the flogger, he caressed her ass with its soft leather strips, back and forth, finally bringing it down on her flesh with a crack of his wrist. He counted the ten strokes aloud, watching her skin flush even more and almost feeling the heat from it rise from her body. He knew how excited she was. The aroma of her musk mingled with the delicious scents of the candles. He spotted a small bottle of baby oil on the dresser with an artist’s brush next to it. So, she wanted to let him know wax play was on the menu if he so desired.

Maybe later. When he had more control of himself. He’d take a picture with his phone to replace the one he carried that was nearly worn out by this time.

“Pull on the rope around your hips,” he ordered, knowing it would make the knot in front irritate her clit and excite her. “But not enough to make you come. Just enough to keep you on the edge. Go ahead.”

Catching her full lower lip with her teeth, she did as she’d been told, tugging as much as possible with the limited amount of play he’d left in the rope. He knew it would be just enough to up the level of her arousal without tipping her over the edge. He wanted that pleasure himself.

He kept his eyes pinned to her as he divested himself of his trousers and boxers then allowed himself another moment to just drink in the image of her. Again he asked himself how he’d got so fucking lucky. The big question, however, was how she’d respond to the gift he had in his jacket pocket for her and how she felt about a long-term commitment.

Well, this was the night he’d find out.

As he draped the rest of his clothes over a small slipper chair, he spotted something else on the dresser. A small tube of gel. And his heart triple-timed. He remembered how he’d told her over and over the night he took her ass that she’d be his forever. Was this her way of telling him how she felt?

He was about to find out.

“Get up on the bed, girl, on your hands and knees.”

She complied silently but he caught the gleam in her eyes.

Yes!

Standing behind her, he undid the intricately bound rope around her hips, taking a moment to abrade it against her clit before dropping it to the floor. Then he slowly removed the butt plug, adding it to the coil of rope. Finally he opened the lube, squirted some onto one finger and slowly inserted it into the hot well of her ass. Her muscles clenched around him and Kari moaned softly.

He worked his finger in and out, added more gel and another finger, smoothing the lube into her hot tissues. She moaned softly with each thrust, the sounds of pleasure increasing when he reached around her hip to find her clit and brush the tip of a finger back and forth over it.

Finally, he couldn’t wait a moment longer. Tossing the tube onto the bed, he covered himself with the condom he’d taken from his trouser pocket and plunged into her with one hard, swift stroke. Kari arched her back and pushed back against him, rocking slightly on the bed.

“Yessssss.” The sound drifted from her mouth, a long moan of pleasure.

“Deep breath, girl,” he ordered, tightening his grip on her hips. “Let it out. Slowly. Now.”

This was it. The final act of possession, the act that would make her totally and completely his.

Along with what he had planned for later.

Slade gritted his teeth, reaching for the frayed edges of his control, wanting to make this last as long as possible. But Kari wasn’t giving him the option. He hadn’t ordered her to be still so she was rocking hard against him, taking him even deeper if that was possible. Fitting herself to his rhythm

Almost there. Almost…there.

He reached around for her clit again, pulling and tugging on it as he rode her harder and harder.

“Come now,” he ordered, unable to contain himself a moment longer.

They exploded together, bodies shaking violently, his cock pulsing inside her, the muscles of her hot, dark tunnel locking on to him like a vice. They shook violently, both of them, as intense spasms gripped them until the storm was over, leaving both of them spent. He collapsed forward over her, trying to catch his weight on his forearms so as not to crush her. It was the most intense orgasm he could ever remember having. He wondered if his heart would ever settle down to a normal rhythm again or his lungs would draw in enough breath.

At last the final aftershocks subsided and he withdrew slowly from her body, turning her so he could pull her against him. Neither of them seemed to have any need for words. Their bodies had done the talking for them.

When he was sure he had his body under control, Slade eased himself off the bed and disposed of the condom. He wanted to carry her into the shower but he had something else to do first.

“Don’t move. I’ll be right back.”

Kari couldn’t imagine where he was going. Their drink glasses still sat on the nightstand, untouched. And, as exhausted as she was, she wondered how Slade even had the energy to move. She managed to manoeuvre herself around on the bed so her head was on the mound of pillows by the headboard but that was the extent of her energy. She really wanted a shower but she wasn’t sure she could even make it into the bathroom.

Her ass still stung with a pleasant burn and the rest of her body felt as if a tank had rolled over it. She didn’t remember any time she’d ever had such an all-consuming orgasm or one that stabbed right to the heart of her soul.

She hadn’t realised her eyes had closed until Slade’s deep voice pierced the fog hugging her brain.

“I don’t remember giving permission for you to sleep, girl.”

Her eyes popped open and she made a move to sit up. She blinked, trying to focus on Slade’s face and, when she did, she relaxed. He was definitely fighting a smile.

“I’m sorry, Sir, but you completely wore me out.”

“Good. That was my plan.”

He was holding a small, shiny black bag, the kind lingerie stores often use.

“Did you buy me fancy undies?” she asked, eyeing the bag.

“Something better. At least I think it is.”

He climbed up onto the bed and stretched out next to her. He balanced on one arm, head resting on his hand, while the other hand still held the bag.

“I know people today are all about symbolism,” he began, “so what I have to say is all about symbols.”

“Symbols?” Kari frowned. She had no idea what he was talking about.

“By now you have to know how I feel about you. I realise I’m not the best with words, but… What is it Tom Cruise said in that movie? You complete me.” He leant forward slightly to deliver a very soft kiss. “You really complete me, Kari. And I don’t think that now I can ever do without you.”

Her heart gave a little stutter. “What exactly are you saying?”

“That I want you to be mine. Forever. I want to know that you’re waiting for me when I come home from missions. I’m saying that I believe with my heart you’re capable of weathering the long separations because you’re such a strong individual in your own right. That you’re the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with.”

Now he moved his hand and dropped the bag between them. Shifting his position so he could sit up, he reached in and pulled out a flat rectangular box and handed it to her.

“Go on. Open it.”

She lifted the lid with hands that trembled. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw the beautiful circlet of delicately-etched gold lying on a bed of satin.

“Oh my God, Slade. Is this what I think it is?”

He nodded. “As you know, placing a collar on a woman in our lifestyle tells the world she belongs to him. And that’s what this is, Kari. Something to tell everyone you belong to me. Will you accept it?”

Her mouth was so dry she couldn’t speak, only nod her head. The fine metal was cool against her overheated skin and she reached a hand up to touch it, hearing the tiny click as he locked it into place.

“But we live in a wider world,” he went on, “and I want everyone in that world to know you’re mine as well.” He reached into the bag again, brought out a much smaller box and opened it.

Kari thought her heart might stop as she looked at the exquisite solitaire diamond winking at her in the subdued lighting of the room. Slade lifted it from the box and looked at her.

“I love you, Kari. Will you marry me? Let me tell the world you’re mine?”

“Oh, yes.” She threw her arms around him, nearly knocking the ring out of his hand. “Yes, yes, yes. I love you, too. I will worry about you every minute you’re away but I’ll focus on my job and keep you safe in my heart.”

He eased her away from him just enough to be able to slip the ring on her finger.

“Forever, Kari.”

“Forever,” she agreed.

The kiss this time was about commitment. About the future. About how lucky she was to hold the heart of this warrior.

And to have him as her Master forever.

Also available from Total-E-Bound Publishing:

Head Games

Desiree Holt

Excerpt

Chapter One

“Good evening, Senor Valdez.”

Kaci Ballard stood to one side as Oliver, the doorman at The Pyramid, greeted her Dom with the deference befitting a platinum member of the bondage club. His glance barely acknowledged Kaci, standing with her head bowed and her hands clasped in front of her in proper sub attitude.

“Good evening, Oliver.” Diego signed the register then tapped Kaci on the shoulder. “Follow me.”

She walked two paces behind him, their standard arrangement when they were in D/s mode. And tonight they definitely were. This was the third anniversary of their relationship, and after much preparation Diego was going to introduce her to a place she’d never been before—subspace. In the three years they’d been together, he’d taught her how to appreciate herself, both as a woman and a sub, subtly and carefully taking her up one level at a time in the intensity of their D/s play.