Chapter Eleven

Joseph lay draped on top of Jenna for a while after their shared orgasm settled. Sated and limp, she smiled drowsily around her gag and tried to open her eyes against the mask but could only see a muffled light through the dark cloth.

On top of her, Joseph stirred. “Am I crushing you?”

She shook her head, but he sat up anyway and released the bridle from her neck and the restraints from her wrists. She lifted her numb arms and slipped off the mask before turning to face him. He’d just finished unhooking the other end of her leash from the bed. When he turned toward her, still kneeling, his eyes immediately sought hers.

“Is that what you had in mind?” he asked, removing the ball gag for her. “Yes or no?”

Her mouth was free to speak, but she nodded anyway, though hell no, she couldn’t have even dreamed up something that intense, that earth-shattering, that utterly amazing.

She felt bound to this man now. She’d never experienced something so sweet and yet utterly dirty in all her life. It connected them, made them something more than she’d ever been with any other living soul.

And the orgasm. Both orgasms. Wow.

A shiver of pleasure rattled up her vertebrae.

With a grin, she hugged him. “Thank you.”

His big arms came around her hesitantly at first. Then he applied pressure, hauling her in tight against him and tucking his face in her hair. A shudder—of relief, she instinctively knew—reverberated through him.

She patted his hair, and had to repeat, “Thank you.”

His husky chuckle made her pull back. With a shake of his head, he smiled, his eyes glittering. “I don’t think anyone’s ever thanked me for flogging them before.”

Her grin was saucy and seductive as she trailed her finger up his chest. “Then you haven’t been flogging the right woman.”

He swallowed, his throat working. “I’ve never flogged any woman before, never blindfolded a woman, never gagged her and had complete control…” Crowding against her, he nudged her right over, making her lay down on the pillows covering the floor until he hovered above her. “I’ve never given up this much of myself for a woman,” he finished on a whisper just before his lips claimed hers.

A person could argue that dominating a female should be the opposite of giving up part of oneself, but Jenna understood his sentiment completely. Joseph Morgan was a straight-up missionary position kind of man, who wore white socks and underwear. But for her, he’d added color and toys to his sex. He’d stepped out of his comfort zone.

She sank against his mouth, sucking in the rich, heady flavor of her lover and a hint of her own spices. He’d just dipped his tongue between her teeth and stroked once, making her moan and arch into him, burying her fingers into his thick blond strands, when he pulled back abruptly.

“Condom’s falling off,” he muttered, his scowl showing his irritation as he bent to fix the matter.

Jenna sat up, wiping at her wet, swollen mouth as she watched him.

“I should clean up, too.” Her own cream remained sticky on her thighs.

As Joseph gave an absent nod, she pushed to her feet and padded naked into her private bath.

After shutting the door, she turned to look at the woman in the mirror. For the first time since escaping a killer, she didn’t see a bruised, battered survivor victim. She saw a woman who’d just been well and thoroughly loved, hair askew, lips red, skin covered with beard burn, nipples all rosy and afterglow pink.

Grinning at herself, she did a little dance, wiggling her hips, spinning in a circle and pumping her hands into the air.

She’d done it. She’d had sex. Now, if she could clean up and snuggle under some cotton sheets, spoon with her hunky deputy and a pint of chocolate ice cream, life would be perfect. Okay, add some almond Kisses and a package of peanut butter M&M’s and life would be the bomb.

Her stomach rumbled in agreement.

Are you hungry, Jenna Rose?

She shivered as a rough, yet familiar voice echoed through her head.

Nothing’s free, honey. Tonight you have to earn your dinner.

A vision entered her head. She knelt on the ground, looking up at a blank shadowed form that scared the crap out of her. The rasp of a zipper made her gag.

You have to snack on a little appetizer before I give you the main course.

A pale hand holding a stiff cock came into view, the huge veins lacing it about as thick as the penis itself.

Slapping her hands over her mouth, Jenna gagged. This time, she kept her stomach from contracting. But she still felt dirty. Inside.

Had she gone down on the Snatcher to earn her supper? Had she put her mouth around that sick, stumpy penis?

No.

No fucking way.

She didn’t care how hungry she was. She never would’ve stooped so low.

Skin still crawling from simply remembering the Snatcher’s icky offer, she tiptoed to the door, locked it as quietly as possible, then hurried into the shower and scrubbed her skin raw with her fingernails as she stood under a scalding hot spray, trying to wash away the disturbing memory, wishing she had a Brillo Pad handy to rub harder.

The bathroom’s door lock did no good. She’d just dunked her face under the stream when someone ripped the shower curtain open behind her.

“I locked the door for a reason,” she grumbled, stalling before she turned, hoping the hot water made her entire face red so he wouldn’t be able to see how she’d started to cry.

As sweet as his worrying was, she hated putting the look of regret on his face.

From the sound of his voice, however, it seemed the look was already solidly in place. “Yeah, well, I brought you to this. I figure I have a right to help you deal with the fallout.”

“No, you did not—” Spinning around as she spoke, a gasp cut off her words as he clutched her arms and pulled her off her feet.

His lips crushed hers, stunning her mute and still. As soon as she melted against him and wrapped her arms around his neck, he let out a sob and wrenched his mouth away, burying his face in her wet hair.

“I’m sorry. I’m so fucking sorry.”

He was crying. Dear Lord, she’d made the big, tough deputy cry. “No,” she instantly soothed, cupping his head to make him lift his face and look at her. “No, Joseph. It wasn’t you. I…I had another memory. Of him.”

He pulled back to search her eyes. “A memory? What kind of memory?”

Jenna fumbled a moment, not wanting to upset him. “It was nothing really. I was just hungry when I came in here, and a new memory popped into my head. He wanted me to give him a blowjob before he fed me. But I didn’t, I know I didn’t.” She shivered. “It was just like last night. I couldn’t see his face. I can never see his goddamn face.”

Squinting, Joseph stared hard. “Just like last night?” he murmured.

Paling, she realized what she’d let slip. Jenna gulped. “Umm…yeah,” she admitted. “You didn’t make me vomit. He did. I…I remembered Savannah.”

“Wait. This is the second time you mentioned her. When did you see Savannah?”

She waved him to shut up so she could finish. “He brought her to see me. She wore a leash, just like I had on tonight, and he wanted to show her off, show me what he’d turned her into. He told her to go down on him. And she did. But afterward, he…he killed her.”

“Jesus.” Joseph tightened his arms around her. “Anything else?” He croaked the question. “Do you remember any other detail?”

She shook her head, but said, “He had a short penis with these huge, ugly veins on it. And he’s Caucasian. But that’s all my memory will let me see of him so far. It shadows out so much.”

“That’s okay,” Joseph murmured, stroking her hair as he turned her in the shower. “Don’t rush it, just—” He let out a short laugh that made Jenna lift her face.

“What?”

The naked, wet cop shook his head, his eyes gleaming with humor. “I’m not sure if I should report this to the sheriff or not. He’ll probably want every man in the county to come in and drop his pants, on the lookout for a short, veiny dick.”

Jenna grinned and rolled her eyes. “Wouldn’t that be a lineup?”

Soon, Joseph was laughing outright as he held onto her. Above them, the water cooled to a pleasant warm. Jenna relished the moment and cuddled against her lover until he grew sober and eased the hair out of her face so she could look up at him.

“I think we’re coming at this from the wrong angle,” he said, back to his serious self.

She crinkled her brow. “Coming at what?”

“Sex. I know you think forcing it is going to help you somehow, but if you keep having a new memory of him every time we’re together, especially doing the kinky S&M stuff, I think it’s going to scare you away instead of—”

“But you like it,” she insisted, cutting him off.

He grinned. “Yeah, I liked it. And maybe someday we can try it again. But I’m not too concerned about what I do and don’t like right now. Finding something that fits you is what this is all about.”

“But—”

He lifted his hand to hush her. “You want to get past this, don’t you? You want to dissolve this fear he’s put inside you?”

“You know I do.”

“Then let’s change things up.”

She looked up at him with large, frightened eyes. Her chin trembled. “I thought I was. I thought if we tried something new and—”

He shook his head, his eyes going soft as he gave her a gentle smile. “Not like that. Everything you’ve wanted to do has been about me mastering you, me standing above you, me binding you, me on top. Why don’t you try the top for a while? You want control of your life again? Then take control. Control me.”

Her mouth dropped open. He was right. Last night, she’d been so sure she’d been the one in control. But he had been the one standing above her while she’d knelt in the submissive position. Maybe he had a point.

“So…what you’re saying is you’re willing to be tied, and bound, and gagged.”

The look in his eyes instantly rejected the idea. His mouth froze partway open. But a moment later, he licked his lips and said, “Yeah. That’s what I’m saying. Whatever you need me to do to help you, I’ll do.”

For some reason, his acquiesce sent a jolt through her. She reached behind her and shut off the water. Droplets continued to stream down their hair and skin as they silently stared at each other.

Then in a low voice, she pulled open the shower curtain and pointed to the towel rack. “Dry me, Joseph.”

His eyes heated as he stepped from the tub and fetched a towel. Ignoring his own soaked body, he returned to her and gently dabbed her body.

Kneeling in front of her, he worked his way down her legs. As he neared her swollen ankle he paused and frowned at the bruises. “Where’s your air cast?” he asked, no doubt just now realizing she hadn’t worn it all evening.

“I took it off this morning,” she said. “My ankle’s fine. In fact, I’m fine. Just sore, with some minor surface damage that already feels better after a few days of rest.”

He scowled, letting her know he didn’t believe her, but didn’t question her, something she liked about this man. Whether he agreed with her choices or not, he always respected her wishes and gave her what she wanted.

She unconsciously widened her stance as she stared down at the top of his blond head. Joseph noticed immediately, pausing at her ankle and glancing up. His light brown eyes glittered with lust.

“Can I taste you again?” he asked, his gaze moving down from her face to skim over her breasts and belly and land on her clean cunt.

“Please do,” she rasped out the answer.

He scooted an inch closer on his knees. After dropping the towel, he braced his hands on her hips and dipped his head as his tongue came out. Fascinated by the working of his jaw as he stroked, the surprise of his mouth on her made her jerk.

Humming out his pleasure, he lapped at her more vigorously. She could only stare down, watching his pink tongue flick between the folds of her shaven labia. Her hips jerked from the erotic view.

One hand slid from her hip and worked between her thighs, seeking her hot spot. Her wet opening gobbled his finger, clasping the thick digit as his mouth stroked without mercy.

“Yes,” she moaned, arching her head back and letting her long wet hair tumble down her spine. Her nipples throbbed, so she reached up and tweaked them herself.

Joseph glanced up as he suckled, and his eyes went round when he caught sight of her pinching herself. He groaned against her mound, the vibration sending a pleasant shock through her.

“Let’s move to the bedroom,” she said. When he began to shake his head, sucking on her harder and thrusting his finger even deeper, she ground her teeth from the temptation, but choked out, “Now.”

With a growl, he complied, pulling out of her and removing his mouth, licking his lips.

Feeling tender for this big, tough man kneeling in front of her, she reached down and stroked his cheek. His face jerked up and he looked at her with such hopeful want, her heart contracted. God. Maybe she shouldn’t be using this specific man for sex to get over her own crazy issues.

What if she ended up hurting him? The thought of somehow hurting him made her pause. But the thought of being like this with any other man left her cold.

His eyes gleamed with hot, wanton need. And she couldn’t deny him fulfillment.

Still hot and bothered from his ministrations, she turned and strolled from the room, snapping her fingers. “Heel.”

Behind her, he chuckled but good-naturedly followed her into the bedroom. He came up behind her and snaked his hand around her waist, nipping at the side of her throat, but she shook her head.

“On the bed, big boy. Lay supine, please, with your arms and legs spread.”

He winced and sent her a look, letting her know spread eagle was clearly a woman’s position.

She arched a brow, daring him to contradict her.

With a heaving sigh, he strode naked to the bed. A couple drops of bathwater still clung to his back, making him too sexy for his own hunky skin. When he lay down and extended his arms and legs, the hot look he sent her was anything but submissive.

Her nipples pearled tight. He watched them enviously.

“If you’re good, I might let you suck on them.”

He groaned, letting her know he was ready to do whatever he needed to do to be good. She picked up the cuffs he’d used on her less than an hour ago.

“Wrap your hands around the headboard rungs, dear.”

He glanced up and found the metal bars comprising her headboard. After he clutched two handfuls, she strapped him in place. Biting her lip, she glanced at the sex toys spread across the floor.

“Sky didn’t bring me a second set of cuffs. So, you’ll just have to behave and keep your legs spread for me. Okay?”

He chuckled, “Behaving around you seems to be the only thing that gets me into trouble.”

“Then I guess you’ll have to be naughty, Joseph Morgan. Very, very naughty.”

Finding his pants, she dug into the pocket, winking at him when he frowned in confusion. When she pulled out one condom, and yet another, she dug deeper until she found a third. And they’d already used one tonight. Lifting the trio as she arched a brow, she asked, “Were you actually expecting to use all four tonight, Mr. Morgan?”

His eyes glittered. “A guy can hope, can’t he?”

Climbing onto the bed, she ripped open package number two. “I will endeavor to help you use all four then…even if we have to make a balloon out of one.”

She made him choke on his laughter by rolling the condom on. As he hissed from the pressure of her hand squeezing him, she smiled, ready to take total control. “I’m not going to blindfold you because I want you to see everything I do. And no ball gag either, since I need your mouth busy with this…”

She straddled his head and eased down over his face, hovering above his mouth.

“Oh, God,” he uttered just before swiping out his tongue and stroking her boldly.

Above him, she groaned and reached out to clutch her own handhold on the headboard.

Jenna rode his mouth, twitching her hips to the rhythm he set. He lapped at her, nipping and tonguing her without the use of his hands. She grew frustrated when his fingers couldn’t join the fun.

When she glanced over her shoulder, she found his cock was thick inside its rubber wrapping and ready to go. It looked lonely back there, receiving no attention. So she lifted off his face.

“Wait. I’m not—”

“Suck my nipples,” she ordered, leaning forward and dangling a nipple over his mouth.

He latched on and she rewarded him by pressing close enough that her second breast pillowed against his cheek. When she pulled away, she slid down his lap, rubbing her wet cunt against the length of his erection. Reaching between their bodies and taking hold of his rod, she lifted her hips, stood the hot, throbbing member upright and then sat, swallowing and clamping around him whole.

He grunted and arched his hips, prodding her deeper.

“Yes,” she hissed, riding him, glad she finally had something large enough to fill her, to move inside her, and rub against every sensitive inch of inner flesh. She ground down on him, rocking her hips and gripping him tight within her pussy muscles.

Under her, he writhed, scissor kicked his legs and thrashed against his hand restraints as he jerked his hips up, thrusting and pumping, groaning as he watched her.

Lost in her own ambrosia of delight, she heaved up and sat sharply, repeatedly piercing herself with the most sensational penetration.

“Ohmigod, ohmigod, ohmigod.”

She could feel the climax mounting, climbing up her legs, down her arms, sprouting through the base of her belly until it overtook her completely, and she exploded. Throwing back her head until the ends of her hair brushed his thighs, she came on a scream that shook her to the core.

Joseph followed, bucking and thrashing as he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth.

It left them both rattled. She could feel the tremors seize him minutes after she slumped, deadweight across his sculpted chest.

Finally, Jenna pulled up enough to risk a glance at his face. Breathing hard and wiping at the sweat on his jaw, she smiled as he stared up at her with a shocked gape.

“You okay?” she asked.

His laugh was shaky. “Yeah,” he said, grinning as he leaned his face to the side to brush another wet drop off his temple and onto her pillow. “But holy shit, yeah.” He looked deep into her eyes. “I would submit to you any day, Jenna Daggert.”

She stroked his cheek. “Joseph Morgan, you are an amazingly selfless man.”

She leaned down to press a light kiss to his mouth. When she pulled away, his eyelashes slowly flickered open. For the space of a breath, they merely stared at each other, him naked and tied to the bed, her naked and hovering above him.

His lips quirked with a sweet smile that melted her insides. “How’re you feeling?”

She frowned slightly, wondering if he could see the swirling emotions roiling through her stomach, experiencing things for this man she’d never felt for another. “I feel wonderful,” she answered a bit suspiciously. “Why?”

“No need to vomit? No urge to take a shower and clean me off you? No tears?”

Regret gripped her heart as she realized how much worry she’d put him through these past two nights. “No. Oh, Joseph, I’m so sorry. I never meant to make you feel guilty about any of that. You never did anything wrong. It was me—”

He silenced her by arching up and kissing her. After taking his mouth off hers, he murmured, “Why don’t we stop casting blame on ourselves and just enjoy the progress we’ve made.”

That sounded like a damn fine idea to her. She pressed her forehead to his. “Deal.”