Chapter Three

Regina, in her master bedroom, paced from mirror to closet. A pile of clothes on her bed spoke of her indecision. What did a woman wear when planning an evening of sex? It wasn’t like she was going on a romantic date with the hope of sex or that she needed to dress to tempt Tucker into making love to her, as sex was the point of this rendezvous. Which meant it didn’t really matter what she wore.

“This is totally nuts. I don’t need lessons.” Hadn’t she been married and endured sex whether she was in the mood or not, even when her husband couldn’t satisfy her needs or didn’t care enough to take the time to see to her pleasure as well as his?

Endured.

That was the key right there. She had a feeling Tucker would put her needs first. After all, that was the tradeoff between a Dom and sub. If she gave him control over her, he was supposed to pleasure her—his words. Just thinking of him giving her that kind of pleasure had her body vibrating with need.

She studied her reflection in the mirror. She’d finally settled on a short, silky green skirt, paired with a skimpy tank that left her arms looking as pale as her face except for the rosy glow to her cheeks. The top was snug enough to reveal she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her nipples jutted out, two hidden points. The outfit showed off her curves and a lot of leg.

She felt like she’d traveled back in time to her single days when she and her pals had gone bar hopping, hoping to get lucky. And that was just insane. She didn’t do things like this. She whirled away from the mirror and paced her bedroom from balcony door to hall door.

Earlier, after that toe-curling kiss, she’d taken him at his word and checked out the rest of his playroom before leaving. It was enlightening. One cupboard held a display of whips, floggers, paddles, and riding crops. She’d shut that door quickly. Another drawer revealed cuffs and restraints. Leather bands, fur cuffs that snapped together, and handcuffs that looked very real.

But it was the large drawer of vibrators, bullets, butt plugs and so many other intriguing toys that nearly had her coming right then and there. She’d been tempted to try out his goodies. She flushed as she remembered how she’d actually handled a few, turning them on and imagining them being used to make her beg for satisfaction. After that, she’d rushed home and into a cold shower and resisted the very real urge to use her own vibrator. Or hell, her fingers. Or fuck, the jets of water from the hand held showerhead. Instead, she’d decided to wait, and now, she was having second, third, and fourth thoughts on returning to Tucker and his playroom.

She glanced at the alarm clock on her bedside table. She had fifteen minutes to talk herself out of doing something totally crazy. Remember your vow. No men. Career. Book due. Yeah, what she needed to do was stay home and write. Just to go to her computer and forget about her sexy neighbor.

She hurried into her office, sat, and tapped her mouse. The laptop flared to life. She skimmed what she’d written earlier. Damn, it was good. She’d introduced Jake to a vanilla sub and was able to write how it felt to lay on a spanking bench and the panic at being restrained for the first time.

God, she still couldn’t believe she’d allowed Tucker to restrain her, touch her, and then just leave her aching with need. She typed a few words, went back, changed a word or two, and felt Jake glance out of the screen at her.

Babe, what are you doing here? Get gone. Go get fucked.

“You are not real and can’t tell me what to do.”

He only smiled and turned his back on her. She groaned. Unfortunately, he was right. There was no way she was going to write while thinking of Tucker over there waiting for her.

****

Tucker stood in the center of his playroom. “What the fuck were you thinking?” He never acted impulsively, and bringing Gina in here had been impulsive and foolish. For years, he’d fantasized about his dad’s neighbor. She’d been his first love, but she’d been too young. He’d gone into the service at eighteen, and by the time he got out, she’d been married. He’d been forced to content himself with news from his dad or the occasional glance or conversation during holidays when she and her husband came to visit her parents and his dad.

Now, everything had changed. She was divorced and he was living next door. He’d told himself she was still off limits. He had needs not every woman understood, and relationships took time and energy. On top of that, he wasn’t planning to stay, and it was clear she’d made her home here.

Tucker circled his spanking bench. He’d moved it to the center of the room. Nerves made relaxing impossible. What would he do if Gina didn’t show up? Could he accept her decision or would he, being so close to breaking down her wall of reserve, go over there and try to convince her to give him a chance?

Before today, he’d accepted that she was out of reach. His being a Dom the biggest reason. He wouldn’t have been able to bear her rejection of him and the lifestyle he’d chosen. But after this morning, that no longer applied. If he wasn’t mistaken, and he didn’t think he was, his Gina was a natural submissive. She’d been totally turned on and aroused, even before she’d climbed onto the spanking bench.

And once he’d restrained her, the heat level in his blood shot sky-high. Fuck. The fire in his veins had reached flashover, and it had taken every ounce of control he could muster not to peel her panties down and feast on her wet pussy. Her scent, the way she wiggled that sweet ass left him barely able to speak and every step painful. Even remembering those short, heavenly minutes sent lust slamming into his balls and the blood in his head shooting into his dick. What he wouldn’t have given to shove two fingers into her hot, wet pussy and feel her pulsing, swollen flesh.

Leaning on the bench, shoulders hunched, he fought the yearnings pounding in both body and mind. It shocked him to realize just how much he needed her to come to him. And not just so he could run his hands from the nape of her neck to the crest of her ass. Her giving him permission to demonstrate the bench had shocked the shit out of him, and he silently prayed for her to return and play for real. If she did, well, it meant maybe he had a chance, a real chance of making his dreams come true.

Regina Cox was his dream woman, the reason he favored redheads when he dated or engaged in play. He couldn’t believe the fate of luck that sent her manuscript pages into his yard and how that simple event had triggered his heart to swell with a hope he’d never before allowed.

For months, he’d tried to reacquaint himself with his childhood crush, even if the chances of it going any further than friendship had been slim. Her indifference and standoffish attitude had been a challenge. More importantly, Gina didn’t bore him. In fact, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d been so excited or so desperate to have a woman. He’d been determined to break through the wall she’d erected between them.

“Don’t get your hopes up,” he murmured. “Protect yourself because even if she does show up, it doesn’t mean she’s interested in anything more than research and no strings sex.”

He pushed up and strode across the room to a large armoire. His determination to keep his emotions distanced was crumbling like the walls of Jericho. This, for him, was more than just a play session or research. Yeah, he’d told her no strings and he’d stick to that, but as far as his being emotionally involved? He was totally fucked. During their research—god, he loved that word—he’d demand everything from her, give it in return, and hope it led to more.

Closing his eyes, her features played across his mind, a full-featured, techno-colored movie. Her long limbs, curvy body, thick cloud of golden-red hair, and all those lovely freckles dusting pale skin with a hint of roses lingering just below the surface were enough to drive any man wild. Add in her wide, intelligent eyes so bright a green… He could fall into those cool pools and happily drown. And sweet Jesus, her full, pouty, sexy mouth begged to be kissed. His dick stirred thinking about that very brief kiss before he’d fled her presence in this very room.

Fuck. He was in a bad way. He ran his hands along the surface of the leather bench, but instead of feeling cold leather, he felt the long line of Gina’s back, the gentle slope rising over the firm globes of her ass, and her soft, smooth thighs.

The ache in his balls refused to go away. It ate at his mind like a decaying tooth. With each passing minute, lust ran like a flooding stream bowling over everything in its path. God, if she didn’t come, he was in for a painful night.

The sound of the doorbell made him jump. As though he’d been holding his breath, his body sagged with relief. His dream woman was here, and he couldn’t wait to spank that mouth-watering ass, hear her breathy cries as he brought her to one climax after another. With his gut twisted in knots, he ran down the stairs.

****

Regina barely restrained herself from licking her lips. As earlier, Tucker wore low riding jeans and nothing else. Her hungry gaze roamed slowly over his yummy chest, wide shoulders, flat belly, and a nice, encouraging, and heart-stopping bulge beneath his zipper. Good god, he truly was one of the heroes she created for her heroines but hot damn, this hunk, this Dom, was hers. At least for a little while.

Research material. Though she had rules against dating, she had no such rule about research. Earlier, she hadn’t been sure she could climb back on that bench and let him restrain her, as that also meant letting him spank her. Holy cow! She was here, and she was going to go through with it.

“You came.”

Unable to resist this time, she licked her lips and nodded. She didn’t think she could speak.

“I’m glad.” His arms wrapped around her shoulders and swept her into the foyer, shut the door, and lowered his head. His tongue traced a path along her lower lip.

Regina parted her lips and gave herself over to his commanding kiss. It was clear he was in charge from that moment on. His tongue delved deep, danced, and curled with hers. Each thrust sent pulses of need echoing deep into her center, and when he sucked her tongue into his warm, moist mouth, lust stronger than any she’d ever known rose from her toes to lodge in her throat.

Her heart pounded, and she couldn’t draw enough air into her starved lungs. Light headed and weak, she’d have slid to the tile in a boneless puddle had he not banded his arms around her. When he lifted his head, his eyes were dark, bottomless pools and his lips as red and swollen as hers felt.

He looked pleased. “Very glad you came.” He stepped back. “Up you go.” He indicated the stairs.

Gripping the wooden banister, she struggled with each step, tempted to turn and just jump into his arms and let him take her right there. The landing seemed too far. Her heart pounded so hard, she couldn’t hear anything. Finally, reaching the top of the stairs, she headed for the room where it all began.

“In here.” Tucker guided her through the bedroom into a large, bright dressing room.

“Stand in front of the mirror, pet.”

She faced the full-length mirror, and he took his place behind her. His gaze was intense, his features taut. He wore none of the playful humor she’d tried to write into Jake’s character, and that was the problem, or one of the problems, with her novel. She was fighting to put her idea of who Jake was into a pretty well-defined hero who wasn’t having any of it.

A sharp tug to her hair had her gasping. “Stay with me, Gina.”

She sighed. “This is very awkward. I don’t, um, do things like this.”

“Like what?” He ran his palms across the top of her shoulders, back and forth.

She wrinkled her nose. “Sex. With a stranger.” She held out her hands, palms up. “I mean, I know you, but I don’t. I—I’m a bit nervous.”

“Do you trust me?”

“Yeah, you know I do, but—”

“That’s all you need. From this point on, until we are done, you are to address me as Sir or Master.”

In the mirror, her eyes went wide. “Really? This isn’t for real, Tucker.”

“You are here to learn what it is to be submissive.” He threaded his hands in her hair, divided the thick strands, and began to braid it.

That small intimate act soothed some of her nerves. And Lord help her, she was already humming with need. Staring at herself, she saw her nipples protruding under her shirt. Yeah, she was as horny as a rabbit on steroids.

Tucker banded the end of her braid. “Are you wearing panties?”

Heat raced into her face. “No.”

He tugged her braid hard.

She swallowed her pride. “No, Sir.”

He chuckled. “Not so difficult, is it? Now, lift your skirt for me.”

Regina gulped. She knew Doms commanded, and that deep, rumbling, dark voice certainly sent desire skittering down her spine. Holy shit, it wasn’t so easy to just jump into sex without the romance—or appearance of it—or any kind of warm up.

“This is your first test, pet. A sub obeys her Dom. If you don’t do as I ask, I’ll assume this is too much for you and we’ll call it off and go back to being neighbors.”

Oh, hell no. She was going through with it. And not just for the research. How often did a woman get the chance for her fantasies to come true? Nervous and incredibly turned on, she lifted her skirt. Fingers of cool air rushed along her heated and moist flesh. She blushed when she realized her inner thighs were already damp. She followed his gaze in the mirror down to her thick thatch of golden curls. He wrapped his hands around her waist and drew her back so they stood flush.

“Very nice, pet.” His palms glided down her arms, his fingers brushing hers as she clutched her skirt. “Kneel and show me the submissive pose please.”

Regina let her skirt fall as she lowered herself, clasped her hands behind her back, and angled her head down. Her research had taught her a few things. He adjusted her shoulders, urged her knees farther apart and then he knelt behind her, so close, his heat and musky scent formed a sexual haze that enveloped her in a very warm cocoon.

“Very good. This is exactly what I expect from my subs.” His hands skimmed over her sides and rose to cup her breasts. “You may lift your head and look at me in the mirror.” He waited until their gazes met and held. “Here’s what I propose. You are doing this for research, correct?” He drew small circles around each hidden nipple.

“Yes.” Her voice sounded low and sultry. And some great sex besides. She didn’t say that, of course. He dropped his hands to his sides. Her breasts tingled and ached at the loss of his touch. She bit her lower lip to keep from begging him to touch her, there or anywhere. He trailed his fingers beneath her tank and once again, cupped her breasts, melding flesh to flesh. She barely swallowed her whimper of pleasure.

“One session isn’t going to give you a complete picture. I want you to commit to a week. Today is Monday. We go through Sunday.” He rubbed her warm, tingling nipples between his thumbs and forefingers.

“A week?” Moisture dribbled from her pussy at the thought of having Tucker for a week. Had she ever been so turned on that she’d gotten this wet before starting the sexual act? Not ever. She trembled with excitement, and her insides clenched in anticipation.

His cat-like gaze held hers. “I’ll be your Dom. You’ll learn what it means to be submissive. I’ll expect you to follow the rules we agree upon. Be warned, Gina. I’ll also push you a bit harder and further than you might be comfortable with.”

His hands eased over her belly and around to glide over her ass. “There won’t be romance or warm-ups, unless it’s in my plan. From the time you walk in the door, you’re mine. I determine the when, the where, and the how. If I order you to get onto the spanking bench, you’ll do so. If I ask you to touch your clit and come for me, you’ll do so. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

Good heavens, how could she think when her mind had just exploded. She understood very well, and couldn’t wait. Damn, one of her fantasies was about to become real. As a teen, she’d fantasized often about having sex with Tucker. He’d been out of reach then, and up to now, she’d put away all desire for romance. How was it possible that, after all this time, he was offering a week of sex?

“Yes,” she breathed, eager for his touch when he lifted her skirt.

“You’re job for the next week is to give yourself over to me completely. Leave all your preconceived notions behind and open your mind to possibilities. I’m going to demand that you don’t think, just feel and experience.”

The air brushed her damp thighs, and she bit her lower lip to keep from moaning. Damn, she was feeling, all right, and if they didn’t get to it, she might orgasm from the thoughts running through her head. “I agree,” she whispered, her gaze focused on her skirt rising higher and higher until, once again, her mound of golden curls glinted in the bright overhead lights. What a gal wouldn’t do in the name of research?

“Good.” He grabbed the elastic waistband and in one smooth motion, had it sliding over her butt and sinking to the floor. “Before we get started, we should go over some rules.”

“Like safewords?”

He smiled. “Yes. Your safeword is red. I also want to be sure you understand how the D/s relationship works before we go into the playroom.” Her tank joined her skirt, and his hands trailed down her sides, snagged her wrists, and silently ordered her to clasp them behind her back once more.

Regina found it a bit disconcerting to be staring at her naked body in the mirror and seeing evidence of her arousal. The brightness of her eyes, her parted lips, the pose with her knees spread, breasts thrust out, nipples jutting proudly was shocking. But combined with his hands roaming over her, his fingers tunneling through her pubic curls, it became the most erotic sight she’d ever seen. And that was not a word she’d have applied to herself.

“Soon, I’ll reward you with your first orgasm. After you tell me your understanding of what a power exchange involves?”

This time she couldn’t stifle her moan. Oh yes, please, reward me. Damn, she was a throbbing mass of screaming nerves. She silently urged him to slide that finger down an inch more and touch her aching clit. Though tempted to thrust out her hips and make him please her, she didn’t. Rules.

She drew in a deep, shuddering breath. “A power exchange is where a Dom needs to be in control sexually though some dominant males or females need and expect total control twenty-four/seven. You obviously don’t need that?”

“No, being dominant in the bedroom is enough for me and what I require. Continue.” He shifted his hips behind her.

“A sub—” Her voice jumped to a squeak when he unsnapped his jeans and pulled the zipper down. His hard cock sprang out and brushed her fingers. A tap of his hand to her flank reminded her he was waiting. Her heart pounded in her ears. “A sub is willing to give up control for a set amount of time, usually a session. In my case, it would be for a week, when we meet to play. In return for giving a Dom the control and power he needs, a subs needs are also met.”

She stared into his eyes. “Each person gets what they want, but in a way, it’s the submissive who is in control, because if she doesn’t relinquish power to the Dom, there is nothing between the Dom and sub.”

Tucker smiled. “Very good. You have and understand the basics.” His hands glided down each thigh.

“I get a reward?”

He chuckled. “If you are a good student, you’ll have all the rewards you can handle.”

She sucked in her breath when his fingers curled and eased into the seam between her lips. He spread her open. “Ah, you have a very pretty, pink pussy. Tell me, pet. Are you wet?”

“You know I am,” she whimpered, loving the way his eyes went from deep and mysterious to a lighter sheen that reminded her of blue fog. It was incredibly sexy to see a man touching her, revealing just how wet and turned on she was, even if it was also a very uncomfortable sight. She glanced away to focus on his face.

Tucker glanced up. Frowned. “Nope. I want you to watch what I do, pet. Eyes down here.” He tugged at her lips, pinching lightly. She gasped and then obeyed. Her responses so far pleased him. Her breathing was uneven, her color rosy and the pulse point in her neck pounding. His sexy neighbor was hot, and her body weeping with need. He’d bet the house his little Gina had the heart of a sub. All he had to do was deepen his voice to a low rumble, and she shivered and was helpless to do anything except what he asked.

His gaze returned to her pink slit, gleaming with the creamy moisture gathering around her glistening pussy. He struggled to keep his own reactions in check, but no amount of control could stop his dick from swelling and rubbing against her fingers.

His plan had been to make her earn her first orgasm, to drive her to the peak over and over before he allowed her to come, but seeing her in the mirror, so soft, so sexy, so damn ready, there was no way in hell he could deny himself. He slid one long finger up through her wetness and found the tiny bundle of nerves.

“Your clit is swollen and slick.” He drew little circles around her sensitive bud.

Her hips bucked forward, seeking more. “Yes, Tucker.”

His hand fell to his side. “Sir, or I stop.”

Regina’s eyes went wide with horror. “I’m sorry, Sir. Please, more, Sir.”

“Good girl.” His knees gently urged hers farther apart. She was open, exposed. His cock strained with the need to plunge into all that glorious wetness and be swallowed by her moist, pulsing heat.

He shifted closer, his dick sandwiched against her lower back. One finger glided over her swollen nub. The other trailed up to cup a nicely rounded tit. He played with her perky tips, pulling, rolling, and pinching each nipple, gauging her reaction to the slight pain.

Her gasps, and the way she jerked her hips, along with the sudden swelling of her clit confirmed she enjoyed a bit of roughness. He squeezed harder, and when she drew her lower lip into her mouth to keep from crying out, he bent his head. “That will not do, little sub. No holding back. I want your reactions. All of them.” He squeezed even harder.

“Tuck—Sir!” She yelled his name. Her clit throbbed against his finger, and when he began stroking and circling, she gasped and whimpered.

He purposely took her a bit closer to orgasm. “Are you ready to come, pet?”

“Yes.” She panted, thrusting her hips forward, demanding more.

“I forgot to mention one of my rules.” His finger pressed harder, circled faster.

She knew what was coming, even as her body shot her toward that peak. She shook her head. “No!”