I stole her.

  She’ll never love me. Never even fucking care about me.

  And who could blame her?

  Frustration courses through me as my teeth clench, the muscles in my jaw tightening as I chastise myself for my stupidity.

  Goddamned fool. It’s no wonder I’m in this mess.

  When my hands curl into fists at my sides, I decide I need to work this anger out, so I spin on my heel and storm out into the hallway. My hand hovers over the key as I hesitate, but in the end, I twist it with a click. A heavy silence settles in the air as I lock the door, sealing her fate and my own.

  Throwing away my chance at redemption.

  An hour later, sweat drips in rivers off my body as I rip my gloves off and slam them across the room. I’ve run countless miles and punched the heavy bag more times than I can count, but my mind refuses to find peace. Rapid breaths cause my chest to rise and fall, uncertainty gripping me as I contemplate my next move, when suddenly my stomach emits a very unceremonious growl.

  Breakfast it is, then.

  In the kitchen, I throw together a quick meal of eggs and toast, carrying a tray with two steaming plates up the stairs while trying to juggle the pitchers of coffee and creamer. I glance at myself as I walk past a mirror on the hallway wall.

  Betty fucking Crocker in a leather mask.

  With a shake of my head, I continue, pausing for a moment as I realize I need to set everything down to unlock the door. Left with no other choice, I place everything on the ground and turn the key, peeking inside to an empty, quiet room. Heart pounding, I grab the tray and kick the door shut behind me, the reassuring click of the latch giving me relief as it closes.

  “What’s all this?” Her musical voice drifts around the corner, beckoning me to follow it until I find her staring at the clothes I had set out. She’s wearing my shirt—and maybe nothing else.

  Fuck. Me.

  “Since you didn’t exactly have the opportunity to pack,” I trail off, clearing my throat as heat burns across my neck. Foreign emotions flood my body momentarily.

  Shame?

  “I had one of my assistants run out and grab necessities for you.”

  She hooks her fingers through the fishnet dress, holding it up in front of her as she turns to face me. “Necessities?”

  Unable to contain myself, my lips pull back into a wide grin. “I may have taken liberties in putting a few special requests in there.”

  She rolls her eyes and smiles at me—really smiles—and for a brief moment, time seems to stand still. I suck in a sharp breath, my heart pounding so loudly that I can almost feel the vibrations in my chest.

  “What’s wrong?” she asks, cocking her head at me.

  “I, uh... it’s not important,” I mutter, giving my head a small shake to regain my focus. Desperate for a change of subject, I motion towards the wardrobe, its doors still ajar. “Were you nosey enough to dig through there yet?”

  She snorts, twisting and mumbling as she follows my hand to see the open cabinet. Unable to hide her curiosity, she wanders over and glances inside, causing my grin to spread. “What is… oh.” I circle around beside her, captivated by the way she nervously tugs at her lip and the subtle rosy hue that graces her cheeks.

  I inch closer to her, my voice becoming softer and more intimate. “If there’s anything you are curious about or want to try, Jewel, you only have to ask.”

  She’s still hesitant, so I step forward, glancing through the cabinet and picking up a pair of metal clamps. “Based on how much you enjoyed the rough nipple play last night, these might be a fun experiment.”

  As her cheeks turn crimson, I discard them and grab a rope and a ball gag. “Or, if you prefer, we could explore alternative, more adventurous options,” I suggest with a mischievous smile. Clear curiosity is etched on her face, mingled with a lingering uncertainty. I toss everything back inside the cabinet with a soft thud.

  I prowl toward her, my ears perking up at the sound of her breath catching in her throat as I press my body against hers. My fingers weave through her hair, and I give a sudden tug, causing her head to snap back into position, exactly where I want her.

  Our lips hover inches apart, suspended in anticipation as I wait for her to open her eyes and meet mine once more. “Whatever you want, I’ll give you.”

  She closes the tiny distance between us, pushing our lips together. A faint, sensual moan crawls out of me as I savor the slow and deliberate kiss, reveling in the luxurious feel of her velvet lips. Using her hair to steer her, I coax her mouth open, uncharacteristically gentle as my tongue meets hers.

  God, she’s intoxicating.

  “Have you ever been dominated, Jewel,” I murmur, my words muffled by her lips as she kisses me with the same enthusiasm. She shakes her head no but doesn’t pull her mouth from mine. I gently tug at her hair, creating a small gap between us, allowing me to gaze into her eyes. “Do you want to be?”

  She hesitates, and I give her a soft smile of acceptance, not pushing the matter further. Just as I lean in for another kiss, she utters those two words that leave me longing to fulfill her request. “Show me.”

  A deep purr emanates from my throat as my cock grows thicker. “First things first, we pick a safe word. Do you know what that is?”

  “Sort of,” she mumbles, shifting her attention away.

  My fingers lift her chin, redirecting her gaze to meet my intense stare. “Hey, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Not with me, okay?” There’s something in her eyes, an emotion I can’t name, as her head dips in a nod. If she’s going to be submissive, now’s the perfect time to start. “Out loud, Jewel… tell me you understand.”

  A flicker of defiance crosses her face—one that has my excitement levels off the fucking chart. “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about with you,” she finally says, and I nod, satisfied.

  “Good girl,” I whisper, my thumb gliding over her lips and tugging on the bottom one, entranced by the way it springs back into position. “Now, with domination, sometimes things can get… intense. Either of us might fight the other, or say no, but unless the safe word is used, it’s considered part of the fun. Pick something you’d never say otherwise, and that’s the cue. If that word comes from your mouth, everything halts. Understand?”

  I’m pretty sure she didn’t blink once while I was speaking. As she nods, she presses her lips together in deep contemplation. “How about whippersnapper?”

  Quiet laughter escapes me as my forehead drops to my hand. “Of all the options in the world, and I’m going to be straining to hear you talk to me like you’re some old fart. But sure, whippersnapper it is.”

  Her grin, initially brimming with far too much pride, wavers into a nervous one as I walk back over to the cabinet. She looks intrigued as I grab a bunch of nylon rope, and I can’t help my smirk. Not wanting to start her off too intense, I move to shut the door. But then I have a second thought and reach in once more, grabbing the clamps I had shown her earlier.

  I gesture towards the bed and ask, “Are you ready?”

  “I... I think so,” she stammers, her words interrupted by the sudden impact of my hand on her ass. Her shout bursts out like a squeak as she stumbles forward, and I smile at the vibrant pink handprint on her cheek.

  My cock throbs with need, straining against the fabric of my pants, as I get closer, delighted by her wide-eyed gaze. “The correct answer is ‘I think so, Sir.’ Let me ask you again—are you ready?”

  Her tongue darts out between her lips, licking them and giving herself away. She’s already fucking loving this. “Yes, Sir, I’m ready.”

  “That’s a good girl,” I murmur, noticing the sparkle in her eyes as she basks in the praise. “You enjoy being a good girl, don’t you?”

  While she nods, a coy smile plays on her lips, and I raise an eyebrow in response, rubbing my hand against my leg as a subtle warning. “Yes, Sir, I do,” she amends.

  Quick learner.

  “Get on the bed and on your knees,” I command, observing her as she obediently crawls onto the expansive mattress. “Take your shirt off.” Her fingers grip the hem, and she tugs, pulling her shirt—my shirt—over her head and leaving her completely naked, displayed like a goddamned piece of art for me.

  My knees sink into the bed as I make my way to her, caressing the back of my hands against her breasts and taking her nipples between my fingers. She squirms under the attention, her thighs rubbing together in a desperate search for friction.

  It’s a tell, and I’m willing to bet she has no idea she’s revealing it.

  My mouth drops to one breast, and I suck and flick my tongue across her taut nipple, leaving her soaked as I switch to the other side. When I sink my teeth into her and tug, she gasps and arches her back towards me. Slowly, my fingers glide down the curves of her body until they reach her hip and come to a halt, tantalizingly close to where she wants me.

  “Are you asking me to touch you?” She nods and pushes her hips forward as I give a low, disapproving hum. “Well, you haven’t earned that yet, now, have you?” It takes all my self-control to resist the temptation of discovering just how soaked she is for me.

  As I pull away, she lets out a soft whimper, her body craving the connection that I deny. While holding her wrists behind her back, I notice how small and delicate her hands appear compared to mine. The power imbalance is both mesmerizing and visually stunning, accentuated by the ropes that leave their marks on her flesh. Dark and powerful, they swipe across her skin like a paintbrush, creating a masterpiece unlike any other.

  And her…

  Such a beautiful canvas, a perfect match for my chosen medium.

  Her persistent curiosity about my actions leads me to slap her ass again, a cheeky grin dancing on my lips as she chirps. “Good girls don’t move a muscle as their master is tying them up. You are a good girl, aren’t you, lamb?”

  There she goes again with those squirms, rubbing her thighs together. God, I bet she’s drenched. “Yes, Sir.”

  Once her hands are bound, I shift to her feet, pulling them close and securing her ankles. While restraining her, I deliberately graze my hand against her inner thighs and backside, a sly grin spreading across my face as goosebumps erupt. After getting everything secured, I return to her front.

  “You’re exquisite with those ropes against your skin.” My fingers glide over the back of her head, pulling her towards me until our lips almost touch. “The things that I would love to do to you are endless.”

  My cock sits heavy against her abdomen as I kiss her, my greedy tongue aggressive and claiming. She struggles against her restraints, her shoulders twisting as she fights to get her hands on me, but unable to because of her bindings.

  When my lips part from hers, they trace a trail along the curve of her jaw, as my fingers roll her perky nipples between them. Her neck taunts me with its irresistible beauty, too tempting to resist. I give in, indulging in marking her skin as I suck and draw, leaving behind patterns of crimson stains. My teeth sink in, and she bucks, pushing her body against mine.

  “Patience, now,” I whisper as my hand teases back to her thighs. The bindings limit her mobility as she spreads her legs, granting me access and begging for my touch. My fingers glide along the length of her leg, stopping at the crease where her hip meets her thigh, before pulling away.

  I grab the clamps from the side table, making a show of opening them and letting them snap shut again. “Do you think you deserve these?”

  “Yes, Sir, please,” she moans, and her breathy voice goes straight to my balls.

  I offer a low, approving growl as I open the first clamp, positioning it over her left nipple. Our gazes meet, and I pause to grant her an opportunity to object. Encouraged by the fire I recognize in her expression, I release the clamp, watching as her eyes roll back in her head. She curses under her breath as I move to the other side and do the same thing.

  “Do you like that?” I ask as my fingers trace around the edges of the clamps. Her silent nod is accompanied by a flicker of excitement, a clear sign she is well aware of what she is doing. As I flip my finger, the left clamp jerks roughly, drawing a long hiss from her. “Was that the right way to answer me?”

  “I do like it, Sir,” she gasps, her words coming out in short bursts, as I flick the other side and she tugs harder against her restraints.

  My mouth resumes its exploration, trailing from her neck to her torso, adorning her skin with a passionate display of hickeys and bite marks.

  As I lower myself, sinking into the mattress, she arches forward, inviting my kisses to explore her thighs and hips. Her body quivers as my lips give a single kiss between her legs, and a cry of protest escapes her when I pull back, leaving her wanting for the third time.

  I stand, pushing my pants to the ground and gripping my cock as I look her over. “Now, Jewel, you can’t possibly think you’ll get to cum before me.” She whimpers again as I lean in, whispering in her ear, “We need you in a better position for what comes next.”

  I leverage her shoulders to push her forward onto her stomach, vulnerable and hog-tied with her head resting just inches from the edge of the bed. Her chest rises, revealing the clamps that graze against the mattress, tugging as she squirms.

  When I stand before her, my cock is perfectly level with her lips. “Do you want this in your mouth?”

  “Fuck,” she moans, her thighs pressing together again. “Yes, Sir, please give me your cock.” Her last word is interrupted as I shove forward, both of us moaning as the wet warmth of her mouth surrounds me. She’s enthusiastic as she sucks, tongue swirling and dragging along me as I move in and out of her.

  “Relax your throat and take me deeper,” I say as I push further, the resistance in her airway constricting around me as she gags and gurgles. “Just like that… I know you can handle it. No one takes me like you can.” Every thrust brings me to new depths, and her gagging has slowed. My cock is slick with spit, dripping as I ram harder.

  “My God, you’re so fucking good at this,” I mutter in awe, surprising her with another firm slap across the ass. As her muffled voice rings out, I drive with more power, the squeeze of her neck growing tighter and my self-control hanging by a thread.

  The sight of her hands and feet bound, body bouncing as I slam my cock into her mouth, is almost too much. “Fuck!” I shout, my throat raw from the outburst, withdrawing from her as my balls contract and a stream of pre-cum spills out, clenching my jaw as I struggle to hold myself together.

  “Why’d you stop, Sir?” My eyes, filled with wild intensity, shift back to meet hers, the sheen of her own spit covering her chin and a catty smile on her face.

  “Because I was about to fill your throat with my cum, sweet girl, and I can’t rush such a sublime experience, now, can I?”

  Another of her tells comes out to play as her tongue slides across her lips, wetting them while she stares at my dripping cock. “You mean to tell me you can only get off once? How disappointing.”

  A loud, growling laugh thunders from my throat as I approach her again. “Are you seriously trying to top from down there? When it comes to dominance, I call the shots. No one has control over me, sweetheart, especially not when they’re the ones who are tied up and under my command.”

  “We’ll see.” It’s all she says as she stares into my eyes.

  A snarl digs into one side of my lips as my cock throbs, another stream escaping from me. “Are you trying to be punished?”

  “Maybe,” she whispers, and I groan loud enough that it aches my throat again, shoving back into her mouth and delivering sharp slaps to her ass, until her skin is flushed and stinging. My hips punch forward into her gagging throat, and I lean towards her, my hand slipping between her legs and cupping her. A single swipe of my finger tells me everything I need to know.

  “You’re so wet I could drink you like a goddamn glass of wine. Tell me, should I fill you up? You want me to use your mouth?”

  She coughs as I withdraw, threads of spit stretching between my cock and her parted lips. “Yes, Sir, treat me like your fucking slut and fill me until I choke on it.” The sound that leaves me is somewhere between a laugh and a growl as her jaw drops open, inviting me and challenging me at once.

  My grip tightens on my shaft as I tease her lips, the wetness of her tongue lapping at me before I plunge deep into her with a single, powerful thrust. Both of my palms hold her cheeks, tilting her head upward to look at me. “Brace yourself, little lamb.” Her eyes widen as I release her face and fist her hair.

  What begins as long, forceful drives between her lips soon transforms into frenzied, uncoordinated thrusts, penetrating so deep that I can feel her muscles yielding to me. The tightness in my core is almost unbearable, as if it could break me apart, but I hold back just to prove a point.

  And then she growls.

  The vibrations of her throat tingle on the crown of my cock, and in the split second they take to reach my balls, I’m done. Fucking done. Overwhelmed by the sudden release, my head snaps back and I let out a guttural shout, my speech nothing more than a jumble of incomprehensible sounds.

  My hips drive forward, and my cock pulsates inside her, releasing thick ropes of cum that shoot down her throat. Every time she swallows, she milks out more and more from me, leaving me drained as the pounding in my body fades away.

  As I withdraw from her, her teeth clamp down on my shaft, instantly stopping me in my tracks and causing me to let out a surprised shout. “Wha… oh, shit,” I grunt, watching in shock as her smile widens around my cock, her cheeks hollowing out as she takes me in and her tongue dances along my sensitive head.

  I’m reduced to a whimpering mess, completely powerless, as her name leaves me in a breathy exhale. Moans and gasps make up my entire vocabulary as I wince, overwhelmed by the intense sensation as she holds me captive with only her lips.

  She’s unyielding, her suction never ceasing until I surrender, and she feels me thicken in her mouth. The intensity of her gaze pierces through me, and a dormant part of me stirs, as if awakening from a long slumber.