CHAPTER FIVE

 

Crystal walked into the office at eight Friday morning, coffee and food in hand. Valerie was already at her desk.

“You are a blessing, Crystal,” Valerie said when Crystal set a cup of coffee and a muffin on her desk.

“I don’t think everyone would agree with that.” She grinned. “Jordan in yet?”

“He called me this morning. A court date got changed, so he’s in court. He said he’d send you an email.”

“Okay.” Crystal went into her office and sat down. She sipped her coffee while her computer booted up, then she opened her email program and found the email from Jordan. She opened it.

Crystal, I got called into court today. I have no idea if I’ll make it to the office this afternoon. Do what research you can. I’ve emailed a list of professionals you can speak with. Also check your text messages.

 

Text messages? Crystal fished her phone out of her purse. Yep, there were three text messages from Jordan and one from Sierra.

 

Jordan: Stuck in court. How are you today?

Jordan: Okay, you’re not answering. I hope you’re not upset with me. I can still taste your kiss from last night.

Jordan: Looks like I might be here all day. Dinner tonight? Dang, they’re calling me in. Text me back.

 

Crystal smiled. Dinner sounded good. She’d made her decision about Jordan and how she wanted to proceed with him.

 

Crystal: Jordan, not upset at all. I still had my phone on silent from last night. Dinner tonight? Sure. Let me know where so I know how to dress. I’m pretty casual today since it’s Friday.

 

Next she opened the text message from Sierra.

 

Sierra: Hey, tried calling you but got voice mail. We didn’t get to talk much last night. Give me a call. Maybe we can do a girls’ day on Sunday and catch up. BTW – You were the talk of all the Doms last night.

 

What? All the Doms were talking about her? She punched Sierra’s number.

“It’s about time,” Sierra said.

“I’d forgotten I put my phone on silent. What do you mean I was the talk of the Doms last night?” Crystal wasn’t sure if this was a good thing or bad thing.

Sierra laughed. “You impressed a lot of them.”

“How?” She thought back to last night. “I didn’t do much but sit with Sage.”

“That was it. The Doms have seen how sad Sage has been without Brady. You got Sage to smile and laugh.”

Crystal’s lips tilted up. “Sage is a nice person. She helped me understand a lot last night.”

Sierra laughed again. “Don’t ever tell Sage to her face. I’ve seen her wield a flogger, and all I can say is ouch.”

“I bet.” Sage was in excellent shape. “Look, I need to get to work.”

“Okay, but we’ve got to figure out a girls’ night. I want to know more about you and Jordan.”

“Bye.” Crystal pushed the off button on her phone. She loved her best friend, but she wasn’t ready to discuss Jordan yet. It was all still too new.

Crystal shook her head. Okay, put last night, the club, and Jordan out of your head; you have work to do. She opened the list of professionals Jordan sent her.

The plan she’d thought of last night started to make more sense. She printed out the list, then picked up her phone. Time to make some calls and see if anyone had dealt with something like this before.

* * * *

Jordan rubbed the back of his neck. What a long day. It was after five. The courts never moved fast when you wanted them to, and today was one of those days. They’d barely gotten a half-hour for lunch.

He’d texted Crystal that whatever she wore to work would be fine for dinner, and he’d pick her up at six. Damn. He wanted to cook her dinner, but there wasn’t enough time for him to shop, and by the time he got anything ready, it would be after seven.

 

Jordan: Crystal, would you mind dinner at my house?

 

His fingers drummed on the steering wheel as he waited for her reply.

 

Crystal: Sure. Do you want me to meet you at your place?

Jordan: No, I’ll pick you up. I’m going to order Chinese food, any objections?

Crystal: Sounds delicious.

 

Jordan grinned.

He called his favorite Chinese restaurant and placed an order to be picked up. He didn’t know what Crystal liked yet, so he ordered a variety. After a quick stop to grab the food, he headed to her apartment.

Crystal was waiting outside for him. He frowned when he pulled up. She opened the door and hopped in.

“Why are you waiting outside?”

Her eyebrows rose at his tone, but he didn’t care. “Because it was easier than making you park, come up and get me. Relax.” She leaned over and brushed a kiss over his cheek. Then she sniffed. “That Chinese food smells delicious.”

Jordan smiled. “It does. I wanted to cook for you, but I got stuck in court.” He waited until she fastened her seatbelt before he pulled away from her apartment building.

“You don’t need to cook for me, and you should have canceled. You must be tired.”

“It was a long day.” He reached over and captured her hand in his. “But I wanted to see you.” Jordan glanced over at her as they reached a red light. A light blush graced her cheeks. His fingers tightened around hers. “How did your research go today?”

“Great. I talked with two different kink-friendly psychologists.”

The light turned green, and he drove as she explained to him what the psychologists told her and how she thought they could utilize them and their information to help Sage.

“You know, for every expert we put on the stand, they’ll put two who will deny what ours said.” He pulled into his driveway.

“I know. I’m trying to figure out how we can use this to our advantage. Having information will help.”

He hopped out and opened her door, reached in and got the bags of food, and led her inside. Jordan disarmed his alarm system and headed for the kitchen with Crystal following.

“Set the food down, and I’ll get it all set up while you go change,” she said as they walked into the kitchen.

“Giving orders, are we?” He grinned at her.

“If you’re anything like me after a day in court, you want nothing better than to change into comfortable clothes.”

“So true.” He dropped a kiss on her nose and jogged to his bedroom. Jordan changed quickly, and by the time he returned, Crystal had set the table in the nook and had the food out.

“Were you expecting more people than the two of us?” she asked.

“No. Why?” He walked over to the fridge. “What’s your poison for tonight. Beer, wine, soda, water?”

“Soda please. You bought enough food to feed five people.”

Jordan set her soda on the table and held her chair out for her. He caught a whiff of strawberries as she sat down. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I got a little bit of everything.”

“I’m not a picky eater.” She picked up the fried rice and put some on her plate. “Excellent assortment, by the way. Everything looks yummy.”

“What we don’t eat now we can have as a midnight snack.”

“And what makes you think I’ll still be here?”

“I’m being hopeful.”

“Where did you grow up?” he asked as he dished up his food. Her fork froze on the way to her mouth.

“Kansas.” She took a bite and set her fork down.

“A long way from Washington.” Her smooth forehead creased into a frown. Had he hit a sore spot?

“Yes.” Crystal glanced out the window and then back at him. “I left home at eighteen and headed west. I ended up in Seattle. My first job was as a waitress. I’m so not cut out for that type of work, but my boss took pity on me. He gave me a hostess job because I was friendly. It worked out.”

Interesting. While a lot of kids left home at eighteen, she’d traveled thousands of miles with no plans. He was curious about what made her leave her family. “Why did you become a paralegal?”

“People from a nearby law firm came in for lunch every Friday. I’d hear bits and pieces as they waited for their table. It sounded fascinating. One day I talked to one of the paralegals, and she helped me figure out which college to attend and what classes to take.”

“You never thought about college before then?” She was bright and sharp; why wouldn’t she have considered college?

“No.” She let out a sigh. “My parents didn’t believe in anything beyond high school. I wasn’t allowed to take my SATs or any placement tests for college. They expected me to get married and have children.”

Jordan pushed his empty plate away and took a sip of his beer. His childhood had been good until right before his eighteenth birthday. The day his father killed his mother. “Do you have any brothers and sisters?”

Crystal gave a bitter laugh. “Four brothers and three sisters. We’re all a little over a year apart. I have two older brothers and one older sister, then two younger brothers and two younger sisters.”

“Middle child.”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“Are your brothers and sisters still in Kansas?”

“As far as I know. I don’t have a lot of contact with them.”

Interesting that she didn’t have a lot of contact. He glanced at her plate; she’d barely eaten. “I’m an only child.”

“I’m not sure it was any better than having lots of siblings.” She picked up her fork and began eating again.

“I wasn’t lonely. I had lots of friends, and my mom was the best.” He allowed himself to remember his mother’s bright smile and how it would fade when his father’s temper got out of control and he would yell. But his father never hit his mother until the day his father killed her. “She was a stay-at-home mom. Sometimes I can still smell her oatmeal raisin cookies she baked when I was little.”

“Was this your parents’ house?”

“No. My childhood home was demolished years ago.” He’d seen to it when he finally had the money. He bought it from the foreclosure company and then leveled it, hoping to bury the ghosts of his past.

“I’m sorry.”

“I’m not.” He took a long drink of his beer as she stared at him. “My father killed my mother in that house.” His gut clenched. He rarely talked about his family, but if he was going to have a relationship with Crystal, he wanted to be open and honest.

“What? Oh my God, Jordan.” She stood up, crossed over to him, and stood behind his chair. She leaned down and hugged him from behind. “I’m so sorry.”

The strangle-hold on his heart eased. “Thank you.” He didn’t know what else to say. He reached up and put his hands on her arms, enjoying the warmth of her touch. It had been a while since he’d allowed anyone this close to him, not counting his friends. He took a deep breath and quickly changed the subject. “If you’re finished eating, let’s put the extra food away and go into the family room.”

“Sure.” She released him, and he missed her warmth, but he hoped to have her in his arms soon enough.

They made short work of cleaning up and were in the family room in no time.

“I think we both had some tragedies in our childhoods,” she said standing next to the sofa.

“Yes.” Before she could sit down, he snagged her around the waist, and when he sat, he pulled her into his lap. He wanted to get off their childhoods and onto something more pleasant.

“Jordan,” she wiggled. “This might not be a good idea.”

“It’s perfect. We’re not on the clock, and I want to talk about us.” He took a breath. “So, how do you feel about kink now that you’ve gone to the club?”

Her cheeks flamed. “I think I’d rather talk about your family.”

“Later.” He dipped his head, nuzzling her hair away from her ear. Yeah, he was using sex as a diversion, but he wanted to put his past back in the box and leave it there. “I want to talk about the club. About us.”

She sighed. “Are you sure this is a good idea?” she asked.

“What? Talking about the club or the fact you’re in my lap?”

“Both.”

“Yes.” He stared at her. “I meant what I said about my attraction to you. And last night at the club… Crystal, I’d like you to be my sub.” He kept his gaze on her face.

She closed her eyes and huffed. “Tell me what being your sub would entail.”

At least she wasn’t shutting him down. “You’ve never been a sub before, correct?

“No.”

“Have you ever played before?”

“Not really.”

Interesting. Not a complete answer. “Clarify for me please.” Her cheeks turned pink, but she held his gaze.

“When I first came to Seattle, I dated a couple of guys, and we decided to try kink.”

“What happened?” The Seattle scene could be intense.

“Nothing bad. I wasn’t into what they were doing.” She squirmed on his lap.

“Tell me more.” He’d read her limits. Nothing stood out from what he would expect from someone who was new to kink.

“After a few dates, the first guy wanted me to parade around naked when we were alone together. Not my thing. So he was done, and I walked away.” She shivered. “The second guy I dated was a sadist. I’m not into pain, so he only lasted another few dates.”

“Not the best Doms for you.” He rubbed her shoulders. She was tense. “How did you meet them?”

“Online.” She paused, clearly considering her next words. “Well, the first two, at least. The last one was a piece of work. Him, I didn’t meet online.”

She was so stiff. Jordan didn’t like making her relive something she reacted to this way, but he needed to understand. “What happened?” Crystal opened her mouth then closed it. “Why the hesitation?” he asked.

“This one is hard to talk about.” She drew in a breath. “I know this will stay between us.” She glanced up at him.

“Naturally, unless the man did something to hurt you, then all bets are off.”

“So protective,” she said with a small smile.

“Of you, yes.” He wasn’t going to lie to her.

“Because you’ve seen my resume, you know which law firm I worked with before I went freelance.”

“I do.” Why did he have a feeling this was why she insisted on the clause in the employment contract saying her job was safe.

“So, I was dating one of the lawyers there. Which is why I’m wary of us having a relationship. Nothing heavy, we enjoyed dinners out and stuff like that. I don’t know how we got to talking on the subject of sex and kink.” A vibration shook her body. “Anyway, he said he’d always wanted to try kink, and I was willing to give it a go.”

Many started off being curious. “What went wrong?”

She scoffed. “Everything. He showed up to my apartment dressed in red leather pants, a black shirt, and steel-toed boots. Then he wanted me to wear an outfit that, shall we say, was more revealing than I would wear. That was the first fight.”

“The outfit you wore to the club was pretty daring.” The dress fit her perfectly and showed off her long legs.

“Yes, I’m more confident in myself now than I was then, and with you, I knew nothing was going to happen unless I wanted it.” She took a breath. “I dressed a little more conservatively, and he took me to a club.” Crystal snorted.

“By your reaction I’m guessing not a good club?”

“It wasn’t as good as Wicked Sanctuary, and certainly not one I would have chosen, especially in Seattle. We got there, and he got all bossy and shit—and not in a good way.” She let out a nervous laugh. “I was nervous and scared, but he was acting so out of character I was hard-pressed not to laugh in his face. He had no clue about the lifestyle, and all I knew was from reading. I began thinking it was a bad idea.”

“Was there consent?” It was one of the biggest mistakes people made, even him a time or two.

“I said yes to going to the club, so he felt he had the right to boss me around.” She gazed up at him. “We got into an argument at the club, and he tried to force me to play. I started screaming red, and the monitors came flying.”

“I’m glad you called out the safe word.”

“Me too. He got upset. Tried to tell the dungeon monitors it was a minor argument between us, but they didn’t believe him. They asked me if I had a way home. I said I didn’t, that we had come together.”

“What happened?” He hoped the monitors were good guys.

“He stood there all smug, saying he wasn’t going to leave. One of the DMs smiled and took me by the arm. He told me he’d call me a cab, and we walked away. I got home and went to bed, putting it out of my mind.”

“But that wasn’t the end of it?” He’d met the type before. Ones who believed they were the perfect Dom, and no one should defy them.

“No. When I got to the office the next morning, I was getting funny looks from everyone. I’d barely settled at my desk when I was called into the managing partner’s office. I knew what was coming from the look on his face. They were letting me go. He indicated they would make it look like I decided to resign so as not to cause any issue.”

“That’s bullshit.” What the hell was wrong with that firm?

“Yes, but I didn’t want to make waves. I knew better than to date someone I worked with. I’m not excusing what happened, but it did give me the guts to go out on my own.” She smiled then, the first real smile Jordan had seen from her since she began her story. “The partners all gave glowing recommendations.”

“They should have.” If she’d wanted to make waves, she had one hell of a lawsuit. “What happened to the guy?”

“Nothing. I found out as I was packing up my desk he’d blabbed to everyone that he saw me at the club, naked and playing with some biker dudes. All untrue of course, but this was a conservative firm.”

“Yet he got to keep his job.” Damn, he hated the double standard society put on women.

“He did.” She gave him a little smile. “Although I heard through the grapevine he put the moves on a client and was fired a few months later.”

“Good.” He brushed his lips over her temple. “Now I understand the whole thing in the employment contract.”

“Yes.” She sighed. “As for being your sub. I want to try, but I have limits.”

“I’m listening.” Jordan tapped down his inner joy at her agreement to being his sub.

“This stays outside the office. Nothing while we’re working.”

“Agreed,” he said.

“I trust you won’t brag to anyone.”

“Of course not.” He would never do that to a woman. “This is between us. But you do realize Max, Damon, and Sierra will know.”

“Yes, they’re part of the club. Tessa will also know. I can’t keep this from her.”

Jordan nodded. “You read and signed the NDA for the club, so no worries there.”

“I’m also guessing I’ll need to fill out the questionnaire?”

“Yes. We can do it tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” She leaned her head against his shoulder. “I’ll make mistakes,” she whispered.

“So will I. No relationship is perfect.” He’d screwed up before. “Here’s one thing I think we can both agree on. In the club or in the bedroom, you will call me Sir or Master, your choice.”

“Okay.” She sighed, and her body relaxed against his.

Good, he wanted her relaxed. “What you wore to the club Thursday night was fine, but I would prefer something that gives me better access to your breasts.”

“I have the perfect outfit.”

Crystal smiled and snuggled closer to him, enjoying the feel of each other, for a while. Jordan glanced down at his new sub. Her eyes were closed, and her breathing was calm and even. His Crystal had fallen asleep, in his arms no less. He grinned and shifted so he could rest his arm on the sofa arm.

He wouldn’t mind a little nap. Maybe when they woke, Crystal would be up to a little fun.

* * * *

Bright sunshine warmed Crystal’s face, and she frowned. Had she’d forgotten to close the shade last night? She reached for a pillow to cover her head so she could go back to sleep. Her hand encountered a warm, hard body.

What? She opened her eyes, and her breath caught in her throat. She was in bed with a man. She carefully raised her head. Oh my God, not just any man. Jordan. She remembered them having dinner last night and talking, then…she must have fallen asleep.

How did one handle this? She’d never woken up in a man’s bed before. She shifted, but his arm tightened around her, and one of his legs shifted over hers.

She didn’t mind being in his arms, now that she thought about it. The warmth of his body against hers made her nerves tingle. She could lie here in his arms and enjoy the moment, couldn’t she?

She could. No one was stopping her, and since he was asleep, maybe she could explore a little bit. Her gaze roamed over Jordan’s face. He looked relaxed for once, and there was a hint of stubble. How would it feel against her skin?

Unable to help herself, she ran a finger over his jaw and bit back a giggle. His stubble tickled her skin. She continued her journey with her finger, over his strong chin, to his temple, enjoying the feel of his skin beneath hers.

“Feeling frisky this morning?” Languid brown eyes stared at her.

“Good morning,” she said.

“It is.” He shifted, and the next thing she knew, his mouth covered hers.

She stiffened. She probably had morning breath, but then he probably did too. His tongue traced her lips, and she parted them, relaxing into him.

Their tongues dueled with each other. He rolled her onto her back, and she pulled him to her. His hair-roughened chest rubbed against her breasts. Her brain kicked in. She broke the kiss.

“How did I get naked?”

“You’re not.” He placed soft kisses across her cheek. “You still have your panties on, but I can easily take care of them.” His hand slipped to her hip under the sheet.

“Jordan.” Why did it come out as a plea rather than a rebuke? Maybe because she wanted him to touch her.

“Yes, sweetheart?” His fingers slipped beneath the band of her panties. “I undressed you last night because I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable.”

He brushed the top of her mound, and she froze. Was he going to touch her intimately? Yep. Her lashes slid closed as he stroked her outer pussy lips. Her hips shifted. Oh God, she wanted him to touch her.

“Crystal.” He said her name softly, and she opened her eyes. “Yes or no, sweetheart?”

Yes or no? What was he asking? Then she realized, he wasn’t going to go any further without her consent. Damn, that was sexy. “Yes, please,” she whispered. The hell with everything. She wanted this. She wanted Jordan.

Jordan pushed up on one arm and flung the sheet off himself and onto her. Crystal swallowed when she saw his cock. He was hard and pulsing. The man looked like a sexy god.

“If I’m going to do this, I’m going to do it my way.” He placed a kiss on her lips before he slid down the bed, taking the sheet with him to expose more of her.

Crystal shifted her legs as he continued his journey. This was crazy. But was it? Her body heated under Jordan’s gaze. Her nipples grew hard, and her pussy pulsed with need.

“We’re in the bedroom,” he said to her as he maneuvered his body and pushed open her legs so he fit between them.

“Yes, Sir.” Her voice was soft and tentative.

Jordan’s eyes flashed with desire and heat. “My dick is like steel, hearing that word from your lips.” He leaned down and kissed her belly, before he slid his fingers under her panties and ripped them.

“Hey!” she protested.

“I’ll buy you more,” he promised as he tossed the ruined fabric across the room, then slid his finger over her mound.

Her core clenched at the feel of his slightly rough skin against her most sensitive area. He didn’t stop and dipped one finger into her pussy, pulled it out, and slipped it into his mouth.

Her eyes widened, and he grinned at her. “Sweet and salty. You taste good.”

Heat flooded her veins, and she closed her eyes. No man had ever tasted her. Before she could tell Jordan it wasn’t necessary, his lips were against her mound. “Jordan…Sir…No.”

He didn’t listen to her. His fingers parted her pussy lips, and his tongue dived in.

Oh dear Lord. Crystal barely prevented her hips from leaving the mattress as she found his head and tangled her fingers in his hair. His head rose, and she sighed. Oh good, he wasn’t going to continue.

“Raise your hands above your head.” His voice was husky and rough.

She stared at him. “Arms above your head.” This time there was more of a command behind the words, and Crystal did as he said. This thrust her chest up a bit, but also made her feel vulnerable.

“Good girl,” he whispered before he lowered his head once again.

Crystal’s fingers curled into her palms as he licked and nipped at her pussy. Jordan seemed to enjoy himself, and she was happy. Who was she kidding? She was delirious with pleasure.

When his tongue flicked her clit, she moaned as the little bundle of nerves throbbed in excitement. She fought to keep her arms above her head as he asked. Her reaction to him wasn’t what she expected. Crystal didn’t feel shy or ashamed with Jordan. Her moan must have encouraged him, because he continued to play with her clit as he slipped a finger into her pussy. Her walls contracted against the digit.

He added a second finger and sucked on her clit. The more he moved his fingers in and out of her pussy, the more her muscles tightened. Crystal’s arms shifted. No, she had to keep them above her head, but his mouth on her pussy woke every nerve in her body. Her nerves tingled with need.

Her clit pulsed harder with each pass of his tongue. She wanted more. She wanted everything he could give her. Her toes curled as he hit a sweet spot with his fingers. A quiver started in her stomach.

“Sir, I’m going to come.” She was flying high already from his touch. She wasn’t going to be able to hold back.

His gaze met hers, and she could feel him smile against her before he went back to licking, sucking, and fingering her.

Oh damn! The tingles in her toes began working their way up her body. With each lick and slide of his fingers, her muscles contracted more and more, and then…her pussy clenched. She couldn’t catch her breath. Her body quivered with hot tendrils of her release.

Jordan didn’t stop. He kept stroking her until her orgasm settled down, then he lifted his head and climbed up her body. “You taste so sweet when you come.”

His lips captured hers. Crystal tasted her own spices on his lips, and she didn’t mind the flavor. Their tongues tangled together until he lifted his head.

“Now that’s a fun way to wake up.” His breath played against her cheek.

Slut. Whore. The words struck from out of nowhere. Crystal stiffened and wiggled beneath him. She needed to get out of this bed. Now! “If you don’t mind, I need to go to the bathroom.” She stifled the panic racing through her body.

“By all means.” He rolled away from her. Crystal sprang from the bed and then looked at him. She had no idea where the bathroom was.

“The door on the right.” He gestured to it.

“Thank you.” She ran for the bathroom. Somehow she managed to shut the door behind her and not slam it. What had she done?

Crystal placed her hands on the sink and stared at herself in the mirror. Nothing different. Oh, her face was flushed and her hair mussed, but nothing otherwise to tell anyone what had happened between her and Jordan.

Jezebel.

Get out of my head. She wanted to scream the words. This was so unfair. She was enjoying Jordan’s loving. Why couldn’t she stop the voices? Maybe she needed to see a psychologist again?

She took a deep breath and let it out. Then did it again. With each breath, her nerves stopped twitching. Get your act together. What she and Jordan had done was consensual and downright sexy. She had nothing to be ashamed of. They were both adults. Her body quivered with need.

His touch was so gentle and made her feel so special. Her body craved his touch. She lifted her head.

“I am a grown woman, and I decide what I do,” she said out loud at her reflection.

* * * *

Jordan couldn’t stop smiling. Crystal was a treasure. She’d been a little hesitant when he ordered her to put her hands over her head, but she’d done it and kept them there even as he brought her to climax.

Damn, she tasted sweet. She really did. And so responsive. He wondered when she last had a climax. Maybe it was something they should talk about over breakfast. He glanced at the bathroom door, then rose and headed down the hall. He’d use the guest bathroom.

Once he was done, he went back into his bedroom. The bathroom door was still closed. He grabbed his robe out of the closet and set it on the bed before knocking on the door. “There’s a robe on my bed for you. I’m going to go start some coffee.”

“Sounds good.” Her voice was muffled by the door.

Jordan hesitated. Was she okay? “Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine. Just getting my bearings.”

He placed his hand against the bathroom door. What could he say? “Don’t be long.”

“I won’t.”

After leaving the bedroom, he fought his instincts as they screamed at him to go into the bathroom and check on Crystal, but he also had a feeling she needed time to process what had happened. After starting the coffee, Jordan opened the fridge. Let’s see… What could he cook for her breakfast? At the sound of footsteps, he peered over the top of the refrigerator door.

He blinked. Crystal looked lost. Her green eyes were large. The white robe brought out the color in her face, and he could see the slight tremor shook her body.

Jordan closed the fridge door before walking over to her and putting his hands on her shoulders. “What is it?” he asked. Had he scared her?

“I…” She closed her eyes, then opened them. “I’m not sure how to handle this morning after stuff.”

Jordan laughed. “You sit down and have some coffee while I cook you breakfast.” Is that what she was worried about?

She blinked at him. “Before I do that, I have a confession to make.”

“What is that, my sweet?”

“I’ve never had anyone do what you did to me this morning.” Her cheeks were bright red by the time she stopped talking.

“Did you like it?” He hadn’t thought about it being the first time she had a man go down on her. She’d been so responsive to his touch and his lips.

Her cheeks turned a deeper red. “Yes.”

“Then everything is fine.” He ran his finger over her hot cheek. “The men in your life didn’t deserve you. I believe we’re going to have a lot of first times for you while we’re together.” He placed a kiss on her nose and started to step back.

“One more thing,” she said, and he stared at her. “Can you please put something on? I can’t eat breakfast with you naked.”

Jordan’s belly laugh filled the room. “As my sweet wishes.” Happiness flowed through him as he pulled on his sweats and jogged out of the bedroom a moment later. Crystal wasn’t running. A very good start.

At breakfast, he found out a little more about her family. She’d been brought up by very strict and religious parents. Anger and compassion filled him at her tale. It amazed him how open she was about sex. “Are you still willing to be my sub?” Jordan asked.

Crystal took a sip of her coffee. “Yes. I want to learn what it means to be your sub but also to have a relationship with you.”

A sense of peace flowed over him. He’d been a little worried she might have changed her mind since last night. “I want that as well.”

“So what do we do now?” she asked as she took her empty plate to the sink.

“We talk.” He followed suit with his plate and cup. “Your choice. We can talk in the family room, outside on the deck, or in my home office.”

She tilted her head. “Family room. Neither of us is dressed to be outside.”

“We would have total privacy, but your call.” He guided her to the sofa, and they both sat down. “What kind of questions do you have?”

Crystal smiled. “A lot. How did you get interested in kink?”

“I think it was always there.” He shifted his body against the soft leather. “I enjoyed being with women, being in control in the bedroom.”

“When did you start?”

“Are you asking me when I lost my virginity?” Her cheeks turned pink, and Jordan let go a husky laugh. “It’s okay. I was sixteen.”

“I was twenty.”

“That doesn’t surprise me, based on what you told me about your family.” Unable to help himself, he ran his finger over her cheek. “How is it you’re so open about sex?”

Her lashes concealed her expressive eyes from him. “I’ve always been curious. I had to be very careful around my family, but I did a lot of reading. Once I was on my own, I wanted to learn what I was missing. Continue with your story.”

“During my senior year in high school, I started becoming aware of my dominant tendencies. It was more than sex. I did it in sports as well. One of my coaches noticed it on the soccer field, so he took me aside and discussed what being a Dominant meant.”

“But you were underage.”

Jordan laughed. “He talked about it in general, not in a sexual context, not until I was over eighteen.” He closed his eyes and took a breath. “I told you my father killed my mother.”

“Yes.” Her hand touched his.

Jordan turned his hand over, and their fingers entwined. “My dad had a temper, but until that day, he hadn’t hurt my mother or me. We were kind of used to his verbal rages.”

“Still, it doesn’t excuse what he did.”

“No, it doesn’t.” He couldn’t forgive his father for what he’d done. Even after all these years. “I worried I’d inherited his temper.”

“I can see why you might worry.”

Jordan was happy she didn’t feed him platitudes. “I went a little out of control after his trial. I could tell my own anger was spilling over into other aspects of my life. I was still in contact with my soccer coach, so he offered to help me.”

“What did he do?”

“Helped me channel my negative emotions. He taught me how to be a Dominant and remain in control of my emotions. Not only in the kink community, but with action. He introduced me to a friend who taught me to box.”

“How did he teach you? He didn’t hurt you, did he?”

“Sweet Crystal.” He squeezed her hand. “No, he didn’t hurt me. He knew people in the community and introduced me. It was the best thing for me. They taught me what it means to be a good Dominant and what it meant in terms of sexual situations and non-sexual situations.”

“I’m glad someone helped you.”

“I am too. The more I learned, the more I found a place where I belonged.”

“Have you had a sub before?”

“Not a sub, but a bottom.” He wasn’t going to lie to her. “But not in the same way I want you to be my sub.”

“Explain please, because I’m confused.”

“The term submissive can be distinguished as either a submissive, which usually implies a D/s committed relationship, like Max and Sierra, or bottom – a submissive who is not in a committed relationship, is interested in only casual play. I’ve played with bottoms at the club or a party, but there is nothing outside of play. I never brought them to my home.”

“Oh.” Her eyes grew wide.

“I’m not going to say I didn’t play at the club, but nothing beyond a willing bottom at the club who is unattached. I’ll refer to subs as we talk since it’s easier. And I’ve never had sex with a bottom.”

“No sex.” Her voice was soft.

“That’s right. I was waiting for you.”

Her cheeks turned red. “But there’s no way you would know I was going to come into your life.”

“True. But you did.”

Crystal shook her head. “Crazy man. Can you tell me more about how you, Max, and Damon came to be partners in Wicked Sanctuary?”

“We met during a munch and hit it off. We would meet for dinner or drinks but also at the parties. We were tired of hooking up with different subs at parties. Max came up with the idea of a private club. He had the land, so we started planning.”

“You said you were partners.”

“Yep. Max put up the majority of the money, which is why he runs it. Damon and I put up some money, but we mainly do other duties. I help teach the classes for new members. Damon is almost always in the club as a dungeon monitor when it’s open.”

“Sounds like it’s become a good partnership.”

“It is. We were friends before Max even thought of the club, and now we’re even closer. The club has been a dream come true.”

“A good outlet for men like you, Max, and I’m guessing Damon to allow their dominant side out without worrying how society is going to view you.”

“That’s a very enlightened statement.” Crystal was a smart cookie, and she was willing to talk with him.

“I have been reading, and from what I saw on Thursday and talking with Sage, the Doms are all… What’s the word? Overwhelming, but caring.”

Jordan laughed. “Overwhelming is a good one, and yes, we care.” He cupped her cheek. “Dominance isn’t about force; it’s about control. I get off on how my actions can make a sub quiver with excitement and need.”

“Not fear?”

“Never fear. If I see a sub is afraid, I stop, and we talk. I’m not into pain or humiliation.”

“I’m glad. I’m not either.”

“I didn’t think you would be.” He pulled back. “Let me go get a questionnaire from my office so we can go over it.”

“You keep one at home?” She blinked at him.

“Yes. Never know when it might come in handy.” He stood. It took him a few minutes to get the questionnaire, paper, and a pen from his office.

“Are you ready?” he asked.

“No.” Crystal turned to him.

Jordan placed everything on the table and took Crystal’s hands between his. He frowned at how cold her hands were. “What is it?”

“I…” Her chin dropped. “This isn’t easy for me.”

Something was way off. “What happened in the few minutes I was away?”

“My parents.” She let out a heavy sigh. “I’ve told you how I grew up and their feelings around sex.”

“Yes.”

“It seems like I can’t get rid of those old tapes in my head.”

“Sweetheart.” Jordan shifted on the sofa, pulling Crystal to his side. “Based on what you told me, I’m surprised you’re as open about sex as you are. Most would still be virgins in hiding.”

“So not me.” She gave a little laugh. “I couldn’t wait to break their bonds.”

“While your parents tried to stifle your sensuality, you somehow didn’t let them.” He squeezed her shoulder. “You buried it deep until it was the right time.”

“And now is the right time?”

“What do you think?” He was going to let her figure this out with some nudging. He was fighting his instinct to fix it. If they were going to play together and have a relationship, she needed to understand herself.

She tilted her head back and stared at him. “I’m afraid of making mistakes.”

“Don’t be. In new relationships, mistakes are bound to happen. Here’s the thing—we need to keep the lines of communication open. If I start to overwhelm you, you tell me. Get in my face if I’m not listening.”

“Yet here we sit, talking.”

“Yep.” He smiled.

“Okay, let’s get to the questionnaire, but before we do, I have a confession to make.”

“Oh?” Her cheeks turned pink again, and he was curious what she was going to confess.

“The day in the office when you gave me the questionnaire, I called Sierra, and we went over it.”

“Did you check things off?”

“Yes and no.” The color in her cheeks deepened. “It was mainly so I understood what the questions meant, but I did put check marks next to some things.”

He nodded. “Then this should go faster.”

“You’re not angry?”

“Why would I be? You took the initiative even when you were unsure of a relationship with me. I’m glad you did it and talked with Sierra.” He leaned forward and retrieved the questionnaire and a pen. “Okay, first question—bondage.”

“Yes,” she whispered.

“Any limits on what is used to bind you?”

“I don’t think so.”

“All right.” He made some notes. “What about impact play?”

She stiffened in his arms.

“I’m going to mark that as a hard limit.”

“No.” She stilled his hand before he could write. “I want to try flogging.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Her beautiful cheeks turned crimson. “I’ve read about it in the books. They make it sound so sensual.”

“It can be.” Jordan placed the questionnaire and pen on the side table. “Think of something as soft as a feather caressing your skin.” He ran his finger over her forehead and then her nose. “It’s soft and sensual.” His finger reached her cheek, and he tapped it.

Crystal jumped a little.

“And then I give you a little swat with the flogger.” He tapped her cheek again. “Not hard, but not soft. Your nerves wake; your brain tries to process the sensation, and then I do it again.” This time, he tapped her chin a little harder. “New and different sensation as the blood flows to the area and your body heats.”

She shifted in her seat.

Jordan concentrated on her, taking in her slightly elevated color, the hiccups in her breathing, and how her body relaxed against his. All good signs. “I snap the flogger around your ass, and you squirm with pleasure.”

A little moan left her lips. “Oh my,” she whispered. “I didn’t expect…”

“Expect what?”

“To feel so aroused by your words.”

“Thank you for being honest. Words, touches, actions. I will do all I can to arouse you and keep you happy.” He brushed his lips over her forehead. “But for now, back to the questionnaire.” He reached over and picked up the papers.

“Okay.”

“Blindfold?”

“I would call that a soft limit.”

“Toys? I mean vibrators, bullets, and clamps.”

Crystal shifted against him and laid her hand on his chest. “Those sound okay.”

“What about anal play?”

“No.” She touched his chin. “If that’s okay.”

“I’m going to mark it as a hard limit. We can revisit it anytime. These limits aren’t set in stone. We can change them at any time.”

Her warm breath caressed his skin. “That sounds good.”

“Nudity in the club?” Did he want other Doms to see her? He wasn’t sure. Interesting he’d never had a problem before with others seeing his play partners. With Crystal, it was different. When she didn’t answer, he gazed down at her. Her eyes were closed. “Crystal?”

“I don’t know.” She swallowed as she shivered. “Can we start off slowly?”

“Sure.” He made some quick notes.

“Am I putting too many limits on you?”

“No.” It was expected from someone who hadn’t experienced the lifestyle before.

“I don’t want to disappoint you.” Her voice was soft.

“The only way you could disappoint me is by not being honest and communicating with me.”

“Thank you.” She rubbed her hand over his chest, and his cock tightened.

“Let’s finish this up.”

“Okay, next.” She snuggled closer to him.

Jordan took a deep breath. Concentrate on the questionnaire and not how soft she feels in his embrace or how his cock throbbed with want and need. They had to get this out of the way. Then they could go on to better things.

Pushing his lust aside, Jordan continued. It would take all his control to finish this questionnaire with her, but he’d do it.

They finished up a little while later. Jordan was getting ready to pull Crystal in for a kiss when his phone rang. He lifted his cell from the table and looked at the display.

“I have to take this.”

Crystal nodded and removed herself from his embrace. The cool room air hit him.

“Sage, what is it?” He sat forward. “Slow down. What happened?” His mind switched gears quickly.

Crystal shifted in her seat when he said Sage’s name.

Jordan listened to Sage, his temper growing. “Sage, take a deep breath. Let me find out what the hell is going on. Next time you get a call like that, tell them to call me.” He glanced at Crystal. Her green eyes held concern. “It’s okay. Hang in there.” He hung up his phone.

“What happened?” Crystal asked softly.

“Brady called Sage. Apparently his family told him there is a new judge, one who will back the family case no matter what is said in court.”

“What? That would mean a crooked judge.”

“I know.” Jordan ran his hand over his short hair. “This was not how I wanted to spend Saturday afternoon with you. But I have to call Brady.”

“Do we need to go into the office?”

He noticed the ‘we’, and some of his tension left his body. “No, I have an office here. I’ll call Brady and get the details. Come on, let’s get up to speed.” Coffee in hand, he led her down the hall to his office. Thank goodness he’d done this years ago. He grabbed one of the extra office chairs and slid it over next to his desk for Crystal, then sat down and turned on his computer.

Within fifteen minutes, he’d talked to Brady, and Crystal was researching what was happening. While they were working, Jordan’s cell rang again. He looked at the screen with a frown. “Frost here.” Why was the county clerk calling him on a Saturday? Jordan listened, then said, “I want it in email. And the signed order better be in my hands first thing Monday morning.” He hung up and closed his eyes.

“Now what?” Crystal asked softly.

“New court date. They’ve moved the hearing up.” He clicked his mouse, and there was the email. With the new court information. “Well, it looks like the judge change is real.”

“Bad or good?”

“Not sure.” He printed the email and handed it to her.

“I’ve dealt with this judge before. I bet he wants to get the lay of the land before this goes any further,” Crystal said.

“You’re probably right.” He sat back in his chair. “We need to get our strategy together.”

“We do.” She nibbled at her lower lip, and he wanted to kiss away the marks she was making. When she looked up and caught him staring, her cheeks flushed. “I think it would be better if you drove me home.”

“Why?” He didn’t want her to leave.

“One, because I don’t have clean clothes here, and two, someone saw fit to rip my panties this morning.” Her cheeks turned a deeper red as she talked.

“Guilty.” He wasn’t going to apologize for his passion.

“I need to read this document over and so do you. Without distraction.”

As much as he wanted to argue with her, she was right. She was a distraction—at least right now. Changing judges at the last minute was a power play by the plaintiffs, which meant he and Crystal needed to revise their original strategy. “How about this? I run you to your apartment; you change and pack an overnight bag and anything else you need, and then we come back here and work.”

She tilted her head, which made him want to nuzzle her neck. “Do you think we’ll be able to work here?”

“Yes. I can be a good boy.” He winked at her, and she laughed. Good, she’d relaxed. He wanted to show her he could control himself.

“Sure you can. Why don’t you pick me up tomorrow morning, and we’ll come out here and work. I need to clear my head.”

“That sounds ominous.” He didn’t want to let her go. Logically, he knew he had to let her have her own space.

“Jordan, I haven’t been with a man in a while. I need to sort this out by myself.” Her voice was strained.

He frowned. “How long has it been?” Why hadn’t he thought about asking her before? Maybe because it hadn’t mattered to him.

“A few years.” Her hand covered his. “I’m not backing away from wanting to be with you; I’m asking for a little space.”

Jordan saw the honesty in her eyes. He nodded reluctantly. If anything, he could give her time and space. Not for long, but he’d do it. “Got it.” He stood, pulling her with him. “Let’s get you home. I’ll find a pair of my underwear you can use, unless you want to go commando?”

“Underwear would be nice, thank you.”

“Anything for you.” He drew her into his arms for a kiss.