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“No...” The unfinished phrase sat on her tongue like a weight, as though she wasn’t quite done with her reply. What she wanted to say was strange but familiar at the same time. Calling someone sir had always felt out of place.
But not with Garvey.
She wanted to use it with him. She just didn’t know if it was right.
“Then why don’t you share what you were thinking, kitten.”
Heat crept into her cheek as the butterflies in her stomach took flight. Her throat felt raw and tight, and she had to work past the dryness in order to find her voice. She’d been able to vocalize her desires earlier, so why was it so difficult now?
“I see we’re going to have to work on getting you to open up. One more slip, kitten, and you won’t find me as forgiving.”
Though his tone was stern, she heard an undercurrent of amusement.
He finally finished sliding the zipper down, exposing even more of the flat expanse of his abdomen. As she watched, he peeled his pants and underwear down at the same time, unveiling the treasure trove hidden underneath.
Not surprisingly, he kept his pubic hair closely clipped. Neat and orderly like the rest of him. But there was nothing tidy about the long, thick length of the erection so hard it tapped his abdomen.
She licked her lips, her gaze coursing over the hard line of muscles in his thighs. The bulky strength of his arms. The artwork inked on his shoulders and forearms that managed to make him even more handsome and dangerous as he stood before her naked. Down the slope of his chest, over the sculpted abdomen, those butterflies erupting again as she focused her gaze on what had caused the tingling sensation between her legs. Ever since he’d made that deliciously lurid comment about seeing her lipstick on him, she’d wondered what it would be like to give him sustained pleasure using only her mouth.
After he set his clothes to the side, he extended a hand toward her. Her fingers trembled as she accepted his. Garvey bent, molding his hand to the small of her back, tracing his thumb against the knobs of her spine. “Up you go.”
Panic iced her arousal. He didn’t want to scene with her now.
This many screw-ups in one night had to be a record.
Scene over before it had even begun.
A noise rumbled through his throat as she rose, his grip tightening against hers. “You haven’t done anything wrong, Arden. I see the worry on your face.” After he flipped her hand around, he wrapped it around his erection and covered her fingers with his. “The way you were looking at me? So open and honest with your needs. It’s an aphrodisiac. I know exactly what you want, Arden. And I will give it to you. But not now. Because there is something else you need more than my cock in your pretty mouth.”
Amazing how he had known.
She followed him across the living room to a row of tall bookcases where he curved his hand against her nape and pushed her forward. “Hands on the shelf. Feet shoulder width apart. Ass in the air.”
Garvey’s dominance wasn’t forced. There was a natural element to the way he guided her, instructing her. As though his care and devotion was etched into his soul. His heart.
She inhaled slowly as she moved into the position he ordered. The wood was smooth against her palms. A selection of colorful spines stared back at her. King. Cussler. Roberts. Flynn.
He adjusted her legs farther apart, forcing her to place her chin on the shelf. Still in her heels, she was off-balance. At his mercy. Her trepidation melted when he touched her shoulder blades, pushing her long curls over one shoulder.
He smoothed the curve of her back, skipping his fingers over the pattern she’d had inked there. “I know what you are, Arden. I know what you need. And I know I’m the only one who can give it to you.” Oh yes, please. “The question is, how much pain do you like? A pinch? A sting? An all-out assault?”
His questions slithered down her spine, following the trail of his touch. She closed her eyes, giving herself over to the pleasure. The truth of his words.
“You’re safe with me. To be whatever you want to be. To experience whatever you want.” He pressed against her, his bare skin hot and smooth. “Let me do what I need to for you.” He kissed a spot between her shoulder blades, drawing his tongue over her flesh. “But I need something from you. Tell me when something is too much. And trust me to determine when you can go further than you think you can.”
Arden nodded. “Blossom. My safe word is blossom.”
“Like your beautiful tattoo. I’m honored that you’ve trusted me, kitten.” A cool breeze flowed over her skin as he moved around. Anticipation built the longer she waited. She decided she was back to hating the whole go-slow deal.
A quick glance over her shoulder indicated he was returning. “Eyes forward.”
She obeyed, resting her chin on the shelf again as she wondered what he’d retrieved from wherever he’d gone.
Without warning, his strong hand contacted with the meaty part of her ass. The pain stung but didn’t overwhelm her to the point of tears. In fact, after a few seconds, it felt wonderful. So much so, she wanted more.
Heat spread, wrapping around her hips and between her legs. He smacked her again, this time with a bit more force. The sting reverberated through her body, bouncing between her pussy and her nipples.
“Do you know I’ve always considered spanking a one-handed round of applause for a spectacular ass?”
She snorted quietly.
The next strike startled her with the force and power, rocking her forward on her platforms. The curl of pain wound its way through her and homed in on all her erogenous zones. Tightness spread between her legs, heating her thigh muscles. But as hot pleasure sparked through her, she exaggerated the arch of her back, thrusting her ass even higher.
More. More.
“That’s a good girl. Reaching for me. My hand. Begging for me to hit you again, without saying a word.” The next strike was sharper, more concentrated. Executed with something flat and far harder than his hand. Gentle pressure against her lower back had her adjusting again, placing her hands on a lower shelf as she offered her ass up to him.
Another strike.
Another.
Each concussion against her skin was harder than the last.
And deliciously decadent.
She recognized the sensation, the feel of the object against her skin, as a paddle. It was harder and less forgiving than his hand.
But damn if she cared.
He moved the paddle, slapping it against her skin. The stinging heat morphed into a painful fire that only made her pussy wetter, her nipples harder. She kept lifting, accepting each strike even as tears formed in the corners of her eyes.
“You give yourself over to the pain beautifully, Arden. You accept the agony as though you need it to survive.”
“I do.” She was quickly discovering she needed Garvey just as much. He truly was the one she’d been searching for. She’d unknowingly compared every Dom before to Garvey. Hoping they would give her what she’d missed out on with him so long ago.
When he smoothed his hand over the heated skin he’d raised, she unleashed a quiet, keening wail. He moved lower, fondling the wetness collecting between her legs and trailing down the inside of her thigh. As he swept that wetness over her perineum and anus, he gave the tight pucker a flick before removing his hand.
“Time to take you on a ride, kitten. Hold on tight, because I’m not letting you off until I’m ready.” The next strike was by far the most powerful he’d delivered, and she understood why he’d instructed her to brace herself. He hadn’t used the paddle or his hand. The sharp slap of noise and the slender area where he’d hit indicated he’d switched to his belt. The leather tingled far worse than wood or flesh. A slash across her already tender skin.
Yes. Yes.
Each swat of the belt awakened something inside her. As if she were a flower blooming to the healing rays of the sun for the first time. Like the lotus blossom of the necklace she’d lusted after during the party.
Hot tears pricked her eyes, but her body continued to reach for Garvey every time he pulled back to strike her again.
Harder.
When she thought he’d turned every inch of her ass red, he discovered a new area, working it with his skillful attention. When she became used to the pain, he stroked the spots, pinching and then smoothing the area.
Heightening her pain. Drowning her with pleasure.
The belt fell to the floor with a clatter. He moved behind her, his hands free now to roam at will. His touch was gentle at first, using the heat he’d created to spread her arousal. Build it in such a way that soon the pleasure overrode the pain.
Again, she reached for him.
Take me over. Please. Make me yours. Now. Always.
The sudden, sharp crack of his hand connecting with her ass fractured her thoughts. With a lighter touch, he tapped her pussy, curbing some of the hot energy. “Attention on me, Arden.”
“It is.” Again, the unspoken Sir rested on the tip of her tongue. Would she ever be able to say it?
The next hit was a bit harder, more persistent. Still, she reached for him. “Please. Oh please. Please.” He’d discovered a new place to draw out her pleasure, and she wanted him to exploit the hell out of it.
He slapped her three times in succession. Hard. Gave her no time to recover between each slap. Then he switched it up, tugging gently on her piercing, stroking her lovingly. Sliding a finger into her. Tapping her ass with his other hand. In and out. Slap. Over. Slap. Never quite finding a rhythm to give her something to grasp on to.
He played with her at his pace. As he saw fit.
She could do nothing more than take it.
Slap.
He slid two fingers into her and held them firmly in place. The fullness felt wonderful, but she longed for more. Her breathing changed, coming out in short pants as he continued to play.
“I love the way your skin quivers each time I hit you. Then you give off this cute little gasp. Like you’re surprised I’m still spanking you.” He paused before scissoring his fingers to spread her pussy wide. “And every time I hit you, you get wetter.”
“God, yes.”
He smacked her ass again, this time moving his fingers as he stroked a bundle of nerves high inside her. A quiet growl of approval rumbled through his throat. Tension wrapped around her hips, collecting between her legs as she rode the fine line of pleasure and pain.
Slap.
Stroke.
Her pussy throbbed so hard, her entire body felt as though it was pulsing. She moaned in protest to a particularly strong strike. Garvey gave a deep chuckle and swatted her ass again.
With a low wail, she came in a rush, a swiftly moving storm that barreled over her without warning. Her thighs shook uncontrollably as the orgasm rolled through her in waves, each one stronger than the last.
All that was left was the phenomenal heat he’d created, and those knowledgeable, merciless fingers as he impaled her over and over. Something banded around her hips, offering support. But still her body kept rolling along the crest of a wave that never seemed to end.
“God damn. God damn,” Garvey muttered as another onslaught sank its claws into her and she screamed. The climax itself was becoming painful. But she didn’t want it to end. Soon her entire body was buzzing, every muscle filled with the energy of her body riding the extended wave.
She leaned against him, her eyes fluttering closed.
The pleasure finally started to abate after what seemed like an eon. There was no hard crash. No jarring punch back to reality. Just a warm, cottony haze that clouded her mind and warmed her soul.
Breathing deep and slow, she opened her eyes to find Garvey had guided her to the floor. He was gently stroking her hair, encouraging her to return to him. As he continued to caress her, she realized she hadn’t seen to his needs.
That jolt of truth obliterated her euphoria. “You didn’t—”
“Shh. I know.” He peeled away her heels, bra, garters, and hose. When she was naked, he lifted her into his arms and carried her into his bedroom.
