Chapter Eight

My mother was the first to move, taking her seat across the table from us. She smiled. “There is a wedding in our future. How much further into the future are we thinking here?”

I took a hold of Via’s hand, casually squeezing. “I am leaving this up to my wife-to-be. If it were up to me, we would have gotten married shortly after our date in Vegas.”

Via’s eyes widened to the size of almonds. She hated being put in the spotlight, but I found it delightful.

“I do not mind waiting a month… Or six… A year, even.”

“How about the two of you compromise? Does three months sound reasonable enough?” My mother stared at us with her diplomatic gaze.

My lovely bride tried her best at winning the stare-down with my mother, but failed. “September—I have always wanted a fall wedding.”

That right there was when I knew she had been lying through her pearly whites. She hated the idea of marriage since the one between her mom and dad had failed. There was no fucking way she had her hopes on being an autumn bride!

* * * *

Caressing her hand I asked her as soon as Charlie pulled out of my parents’ driveway, “How much trouble am I in now?”

She glared at me. I wasn’t sure if she was being playful or serious. “You are in beyond trouble. You are so fucking lucky my special room is in Aspen.”

“What would you do to me?”

She blinked her eyes, surprised by my curiosity. Her face softened. “I will have to show you sometime.”

“How do you feel about tonight?” I asked, showing her my interest.

Before she was able to question what in the hell I was talking about, I cleared out of the car and held out my hand for her. To my astonishment, she didn’t argue or demand my intentions. Not saying a single word, I led her upstairs and stopped in front of the room that had been intended for her.

She rolled her eyes. “I thought we had a talk over this…”

“We did, which is why this room has been turned into something the both of us will be able to enjoy.” With a smile on my face, I opened the door to show a room specified for rough play.

I looked around the place to see restraints dangling from nearly every corner of the room and thought, After setting this up it’s no wonder Charlie and Matthew don‘t want anything to do with me.

The full size bed had been surrounded with metal posting and handcuffs hanging from the headboard to the foot.

Her bright pink cross had been placed on the wall opposite the bed. Handcuffs dangled from the top and bottom of it as well. There were a couple of dressers in the room, one of which contained more toys for her to torture me.

I wonder what she will use on me tonight.

Strolling into the room, she peered around in amazement. She took a deep breath in, opening her eyes as she released it. Her eyes glowered in my direction as she quickly grabbed me by my jacket. As she drew me closer, she shut the door in one motion.

Holy Shit! What is she going to do to me?

Similar to my dream, she led me over to her bright pink cross. She pushed my jacket off, causing it to land near my ankles.

“I hope you are not fond of this shirt,” she warned, ripping it open. The buttons went flying everywhere.

Holy Fuck! My heart pounded faster. I ached more and more for her touch as my erection hardened.

Once she had destroyed and yanked my top off, she spun me around so I was facing the cross and locked each of my wrists into a shackle above my head. She removed my black dress pants, boxers included, and tossed them aside. Then she bound my ankles to the cuffs dangling near my feet. Without saying a word, she blindfolded me and blasted the music so I was no longer able to see or listen to her movements.

I stood there, awkward and naked, defenseless and handcuffed. What are her intentions here? As much as I was enjoying this, I was hoping she’d take it easy on me.

After what felt like an eternity of waiting, the smack of a flogger hit my ass. I howled out, unable to determine if it was from pain or pleasure. She spanked me again with more intensity, the chilled feeling of the crop against my now-stinging flesh. I cringed every time she paused, assuming she was preparing to strike me once more. Holy Shit! How can I be so turned on while I am getting the shit beaten out of me now?

There was hardly room, but plenty for her to turn me around to face her. She came close enough that I could feel her breath on my neck. “You will never embarrass me like that ever again in front of our family.”

Before I begged for mercy, her crop slapped my left inner thigh.

“Ah…baby!”

She stopped, leaving me alone with my heavy breathing, while she turned the music off and removed the blindfold. My eyes wandered her body. My erection thickened once my brain processed she was wearing a pair of bright pink heels.

While I was still cuffed to the cross, she pulled my head as far as she could and interlocked her lips with mine. I had never wanted her more than I did at the moment. She unlocked the metal around my wrists and ankles. I dropped my arms, the blood beginning to flow through them.

“I’m not done with you yet, Mister Rayner. I am just getting started. You have one minute to drape yourself over the damned bed. I want your ass up in the air!” Giving my right ass cheek a hard tap, she strolled away.

Damn! She is so fucking sexy! I did as she commanded, waiting for her as I threw myself across the bed with my ass in the air. As I peered downward, I felt my heart pounding against my chest. What does this woman have in store for me? The sound of her heels let me know she was getting closer. Her heels stopped, but she had to have been more than five feet away. What in the hell is she doing?

My ass flinched the second she cracked it with a whip. Shit! Damn! Fuck! She slashed the whip at me again, this time hitting the opposite ass-cheek. Sure not to hit me too hard, she continued this method until she was satisfied with the red marks on my ass.

As the whip hit the floor, she made her way over and massaged my ass. “I have something just for you.”

She pulled my hips closer to her so my cheeks would spread. Her wet finger slipped into my asshole and slowly pulled out. Then lubricated anal beads pushed into me. I had to grip the sheets to keep myself from falling over at that point. Holy Shit! Why in the hell does this feel so damn good?

She gradually removed the beads from my ass. With each bead, I gripped tighter and tighter on to the sheets. Pushing me on the bed and forcing me to turn over, she crawled on top of me. She kissed my lips hard and glared at me with a devilish grin. “I’m going to ride you now, Ryan.” Slamming me into her body, she rode me hard.

I placed my hands on her hips. There was, without question, no reason for me to guide her because she did not need any help from me. She was a virgin when I met her and has been putting my ass to shame!

She brought me back to reality once I was aware of the sting from her slapping me across the face. I stared into her eyes and she scowled. “You focus solely on me while I am fucking you!”

“Yes, ma’am. I apologize.”

With a grin on her face, she adjusted her body so my erection was able to go deeper into her.

I growled out of pure pleasure as she pushed herself on and off me, the pressure building. Instead of slowing to treasure the moment, she moved faster and made me go deeper. My hips flexed up as I held on to her tighter. I was no longer capable of holding back. I came into her harder than I ever had in my entire life. She collapsed into my chest after her body had exploded around mine.

Once she collected herself, she looked into my eyes and innocently smiled. “Was that anything like your dream?”

Smoothly kissing her hands, I responded, “Oh baby, that was so much better than the dream. You sure know how to please a man.”

Shaking her head as she kissed me, she breathed, “Only you.”

* * * *

The next morning, my ass and inner thighs ached due to Via’s rough-housing with me the other night. I rolled over on my side to stare at her, watching her sleep similar to the devilish-angel she was. Placing my hand upon her lower back, I kissed her forehead. “I have to get ready to go to work now, baby. I love you so much,” I whispered right before I climbed out of bed.

Below my waistline hurt like hell as I made my way into the bathroom. On the countertop near the sink were a tub of Ben-Gay and two tablets of Aleve sitting atop a small black tray. I couldn’t help but smile at the sticky-note she had left me.

Ryan,

I am extremely pleased with last night’s events and I am thrilled knowing that every step you take today, you will be reminded of me. That is right, you are mine, baby! Now, please take the pills and massage the cream on your ass and thighs after you dry off from your shower. I love you!

* * * *

A mere half-hour later, I had stepped out of the elevator and into the reception area. Emilia stood waiting for me with a more-than-thrilled expression on her face.

“Good morning, Emilia. Are there any phone calls or messages for me yet?”

“No, but a Mister Johnson is here to see you, sir. He is waiting for you in your office.” She answered, looking pleased.

Mister Johnson? Shit! Via’s father is here? What in the hell could he want?

Questions swirled through my head as I straightened my shoulders, and made my way to my office.

I smiled the second my eyes met his. “Good morning, sir.”

I set my briefcase on my desk and extended my right hand to him.

He shook my hand. “Hello again, Ryan. I hope I am not interfering with your duties today.”

“Nonsense, please take a seat. What can I do for you?”

“I wanted to talk to you about marrying my daughter. I know we talked over the phone before I flew out here, but there is so much more to my little girl. Society has not treated her well, growing up without a mother. I tried my absolute best in raising her. I’m not sure what the hell I did, but I am a lucky man to have a bright, vibrant young woman as a daughter.

“Now she is engaged to you. Son, I am beyond baffled as to how you did it, but at your folks’ house was the happiest I have ever seen Via. She and I never had the best communicating skills with each other, but I can see how you have changed her, for the best I do believe.” He sat there, beaming at me.

A sense of relief washed over me as he sat there thanking me for putting a ring on his daughter’s finger. I had assumed he was going to say something completely reverse. I was expecting something along the lines of he was watching me and nobody was good enough for her. “Mister Johnson, please believe me when I say this. From day one, your daughter has turned my world upside down to a great degree. She is very unique.”

“Having said that, she is still my little girl. She is the only person I have left in this world. If you so much as hurt a single hair on her head, I will have your ass!”

I wanted to smile at his choice of words, but refrained. Instead, I nodded and replied, “I understand one hundred percent. Just so we are clear, I would never hurt Olivia in any way, shape, or form. I am nothing like the bitch that gave birth to her. That little girl of yours is the sole owner of my heart and soul, and I always protect what is mine.”

* * * *

The courtroom felt emotionless and heartless as it always had when I was questioning the person on the stand. I didn’t even want to set eyes on the bastard, let alone talk to him. The son of a bitch was obviously guilty of raping and murdering his victims, seeing as he just admitted so.

“Why did you spare Miss Benson’s life, Mister Martinez?”

He had the nerve to look straight into my eyes with his beady ones. A grin appeared on his face and I wanted to punch the living shit out of him. “Have you ever wanted someone so badly, Mister Rayner, that you would do anything just to get one little taste of them.”

Wait a minute… Is this asshole trying to compare my life to his?

“Mister Martinez, please answer the question,” I snapped.

Knowing I was letting him get under my skin, he didn’t move his eyes away from me. “Look at her. She is just so goddamn delicious. The bitch deserved it!”

Just like that, everything I knew about how to act in a courtroom flew out the fucking window. I leaped across the stand and punched him square in the mouth. How dare he do this to Miss Benson, among others, and get pleasure over it!

“You just made the biggest mistake of your life,” he hissed.

I shoved him away from me and snarled, “I hope you rot in hell you no-good son of a bitch!” I knew very well at this point my license would be suspended for the next six months, and truthfully, I did not give a flying fuck! The judge ordered the bailiff to escort me out of the room. I assured him I was done here and walked out on my own with Miss Benson trailing behind me.

“Why did you do that? You could get fired because of me!” Miss Benson began to freak out.

I darted out the front doors and down the stairs, pacing the sidewalk in anger. “That bastard…” I stopped to look at her as my madness subsided. “I’m sorry if I frightened you. I just… I couldn’t bear to listen him talk about a woman like he had been.” I shook my head. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to get fired. Suspended, maybe, but to be honest, I need the break.”

She smiled. “That’s right, somebody did say you are getting married. I’m sorry. I overheard your assistant talking about it the other day.”

I couldn’t stop my grin from forming. “Leave it to Emilia to spread the news. Yes, my fiancée and I will be tying the knot in a couple of months. You should meet her sometime. The two of you would definitely get along.”

“I would love to, Mister Rayner. Maybe she will allow me to make her wedding gown. I may be book smart, but my mother owns a clothing business of her own. I guess you could say it’s a hobby of mine.” As she spoke, she beamed, ever so proud of herself.

“Would you be opposed to meeting her now?” I asked as I pulled my phone out of my pocket.

She shook her head. “Not at all.”

* * * *

The second Charlie stopped the car, I climbed out.

She scanned her surroundings once she stepped out. “Wow… You have such a beautiful home.”

“Thank you.” Holding open the door for her, she followed me into the living room.

“Via, we are here!”

Via danced down the stairwell. She couldn’t contain her excitement for the life of her. She strolled over to us, beaming at Miss Benson. “Hello Samantha, it’s so great to meet you. Ryan tells me that you will be crafting my dress.”

Samantha flashed her pearly whites. “I would be honored. That is, if you hired me for the job.”

“Oh, I most certainly will,” Via assured her, nodding.

“I’m sure we will make great business partners. I have not a fucking clue about dresses, but I make up for it. I can conjure up a meal that will make your heart melt.”

My ears perked up at the mentioning of food, a language I understood. “It is true. She does know her way around the kitchen.”

The smile never left Samantha’s face. “Are you planning on making your wedding cake then?”

Via shook her head. “I promised myself I would not add any more stress on myself. Ryan’s mom has taken charge of hiring everybody, except for the dress. It’s the one thing I wanted to do on my own, and I’m so thrilled that you offered to do this.”

“I owe Mister Rayner since he defended me so well today.” Samantha grinned and rolled her eyes. She stared in my direction. “Isn’t that right, Ryan?”

Shit! How in the hell am I going to explain I was out of line in court today?

Throughout all my years of working, I had never once thoughtlessly acted out. Before I opened my mouth to explain this afternoon, my cell phone rang. I walked away, leaving the women to talk about the wedding details.

* * * *

My frustration rising inside me, I tossed my clothes into a suitcase. Via stared at me in confusion as I packed. “I don’t understand why you have to go to Alaska.”

“My other business partner needs my help. I promise I won’t be gone too long.” Stopping what I was doing, I hugged and kissed her. “You won’t even miss me.”

She shook her head, rolling her eyes. “I will be craving you every minute you are gone.”

“You will be too busy having my mother irritating you with every single, to the last drop, detail of the wedding,” I told her as I took in her scent. “You have me for one more night, Miss Johnson. Oh, whatever will you do to me?”

Her eyes brightened hearing these words. She grabbed my shirt and pulled me closer to her. “First, I am going to spank you for how you acted in court earlier. Then I am going to tie you up because I had to receive this news from somebody else. You should never be afraid to tell me everything, Ryan Rayner. You are going to learn this even if I have to beat the living shit out of you!”

I swallowed slower than usual. She wanted to beat me because I couldn’t find a way to tell her, without sounding barbaric, I punched a slime ball in the face?

Note to self: do not ever lie to this woman. She possibly will kill your ass!

Biting her lip, she smirked at me. “Here is the thing, I’m not going to lay a single hand, flogger, crop, or whip on you tonight. Instead, I am going to send you off to Alaska and make you think about what you have done. Not to worry, you will have an ass-beating when you return home.”

“You mean to tell me you are willing to wait to punish me just so I will learn a damn lesson?” I stared at her in confusion.

She grinned as if I had asked her the simplest question in the world. “That’s right. I’m not going to touch you, and you sure as hell are not allowed to touch me without permission!” With that statement, she trotted off to the closet and shut the door behind her. She came back out wearing a light pink lingerie number made of lace. Touché, Miss Johnson, touché!