OnlyIfItPleases Read online

  He took her hand in his. Together they walked to the bed. They both headed for the left side of the bed, crashed into each other and laughed. She tumbled onto the bed, exaggerating her fall.

  “Climb under the covers and then scoot over to make room for me,” he told her. Someone had to decide these things, and it was clearly his responsibility. Besides, she had been right earlier. It was his bed, and he was at least going to decide what side he was going to use. His alarm clock was on the left, and he didn’t want to reach over her to pound on it.

  He realized as he watched her wiggle under, the sheets pulled up coyly to expose just the tops of her breasts, that with tomorrow being Sunday the alarm wasn’t set. Still, best to set precedent in case he ever slept with her on a weekday. He shook his head. He was getting ahead of himself. But he wouldn’t have let her in his bed if he hadn’t been planning to have it happen again.

  He climbed in and she snuggled up, laying her head on his chest. He pulled her closer, enjoying the way her soft breasts squished against his side. His cock stirred, but within minutes he could hear her soft, regular breathing, with just a hint of a snore. She’d had a long day. He wasn’t going to wake her up for another round when they had tomorrow ahead of them.

  If I’m going to keep her, I’m going to have to give her my attention. Not just for a weekend. And that means bye-bye club, unless I’m willing to delegate a lot more. Still, the soft creature in his arms was worth it. She was adorably eager to please him. And if what John had said was true, in love with him. Am I in love with her? He’d blocked off the word from his lexicon for a long time. Since Sheila, and that was a decade ago. He knew the heady feeling, knew it meant something, but the problem was that people meant such different things when they used the word love. He always thought he loved the people he played with. Cared for them, protected them, sought their pleasure above his own. But he was willing to let them go too. He didn’t want to let Vanessa go. He didn’t think it was right to say I love you after less than forty-eight hours, but he already knew he felt more strongly than he had about any woman for ten years. Maybe ever.

  There was room for her in the apartment. He could get used to sharing a bed. No sense in her rattling around that huge house.

  That huge house.

  It wasn’t a perfect solution to his other problem, but it was a good one. There would be some people in the northern and eastern suburbs who wouldn’t want to travel that far south, but then there were people from the suburbs who wouldn’t care for the dodgy Baltimore neighborhood his warehouse was in. There was a ton of space in the house. It wouldn’t fit as many people as the warehouse would have, but it was a cozier atmosphere. There was more room in that squash court for a demo than there was in John and Kevin’s basement. Yeah, it would be good for the scene, for sure.

  He fell asleep thinking about the possibilities, his mind flitting back and forth between all the wonderful, kinky things he could do with the voluptuous sub in his arms and where the bondage furniture would fit in her house.

  He woke to find Vanessa staring at him. He’d been sure he would wake up first, but she was resting her chin on her hand and her beautiful brown eyes were wide open.

  Yeah, I could deal with waking up to this more than once.

  “How long have you been watching me?”

  “Just a few minutes,” she said. “Trying to memorize the moment, so that I have something to look back on later. Maybe it’s better not to. I don’t know.” She straightened and turned away, pulling the covers with her to cover her breasts.

  Normally he didn’t tolerate a sub’s attempt to shield her body from his view, but he let it slide. “This doesn’t have to be our last time, Vanessa.”

  “Everyone knows you don’t do relationships, Hart.”

  She’d dropped the Master. That too, he thought about letting go. At some level, they needed to talk, man to woman, rather than Dom to submissive. He wasn’t sure he was entirely ready for that yet, or that she was. Besides, he’d promised her a weekend of dominance and he wasn’t going to sell that short. “I’m making an exception,” he told her. He tugged the sheet down with a quick jerk and rewrapped it around her just below her breasts, as if to emphasize what he had bared. Cupping her breasts from below, he lifted them and ran his thumbs over her nipples. It was amazing how fast they hardened to his touch, and how her breathing caught. She was so responsive.

  She didn’t move to cover herself, and for a moment he was so engrossed in the feel of her creamy skin and puckering nipples that he forgot to respond to her statement.

  “Everyone knows a lot of things that aren’t true,” he said. “Maybe I just hadn’t found the right woman. And that’s Master Hart, to you.”

  Her hands fluttered in the general direction of his, as if she wanted to stop him from playing with her breasts. He supposed it was distracting. He tugged lightly at her nipples and was rewarded with a soft moan. His cock hardened in response.

  “All the pretty girls who want you. With higher capacity for pain. I’m never going to be what you want, Master Hart. You’ll want to use that single tail on someone, and that will never be me.”

  “You think that I play with women just because I like using the toys?” That was a little insulting. He’d learned to use a single tail because a few women he knew liked it, and because it looked cool. The things he’d learned in the process could be applied to softer toys that he was pretty sure Vanessa would enjoy.

  “No, I don’t think that. But—”

  “But what?”

  “But nothing, Mister Hart. Master Hart.” She shook her head.

  “My, you are distracted.”

  “And wet.”

  “Well, as it so happens, I have something for that.” He reached over to the dresser table and pulled out a condom wrapper. She pulled back the covers, revealing his body. He rolled the condom over his cock. “Straddle me,” he ordered.

  She didn’t hesitate. She shucked the covers that had been around her and threw her leg over him. Holding his cock in her small, delicate hands, she pointed it at her pussy and slowly lowered herself. Inch by inch, she sheathed his cock in her tight, wet channel. It squeezed him. He wanted to grab her hips and fill her in one swift thrust, but resisted. It was better this way. Slow. Not just a fucking, but a lovemaking.

  When the last bit of his cock was enfolded in wet warmth, she ground herself against him, pressing her pubic bone to his. He tugged on her nipples again. “Yes,” she hissed. For a woman who wasn’t into pain, she responded wonderfully to intense sensation when she was aroused. He wasn’t going to tell her now that she might change her mind about the single tail, because she might not, and it truly didn’t matter to him. He knew he could give her pleasure. He thought he could make her happy. She was about so much more than the sensations. She needed to serve. He needed to protect.

  He moved his hips and she rocked back against him in an unhurried rhythm. Previously, if he fucked a woman so slowly, it was either to tease her or to hold back his own orgasm, but this time he just wanted to make the moment last for both of them. There was simply no rush or need to show his dominance. She and he both knew who was in control, even with her on top and setting the pace with him.

  “I want to keep you, ’kay?” he asked.

  “Okay, Master Hart.” She smiled at him, glowing.

  No, I shouldn’t say I love you yet. But the words wanted to get out, and he had to hold them back. He didn’t know all of why he felt so strongly, just that she was perfect for him.

  He grabbed her hair and pulled her body down, enjoying the way her nipples poked against his chest. But his goal was to kiss her. He crushed her lips against his, then violated her with his tongue. Her nostrils flared. They sped up their motions. It had been a long time since he’d had vanilla sex. Then again, he didn’t think anything he ever did with Vanessa wouldn’t have some kinky spice to it. He still had her hair in his fist, after all.

  They fucked harder, until at last she trie
d to pull her mouth back. He held her there for a moment and then pulled her back by her hair, in case she was having difficulty getting enough oxygen. He wasn’t sure he had enough to supply his exertion either, but he didn’t care. He was close but holding back. And he thought she was too.

  “May I come, Master Hart?” she asked. Her teeth rubbed fetchingly against her lower lip. She seemingly had no idea how coy and sexy that looked.

  “I’ll tell you when.” He pumped inside her hard, once, twice, three times, until he knew he was ready to join her. “Now.”

  Her back arched. Her pussy contracted around him, pulsing. His cock erupted, spilling out his pleasure. They held each other tight as they came together, her pussy milking his balls empty. At last they collapsed, sweaty and tired.

  “That was pretty good,” she said at last.

  He raised an eyebrow at her. Pretty good? It was wonderful, but maybe that was just him.

  “Yeah.” She grinned at him. “Not too bad at all. Could have been worse. Master Hart.” Her voice was light, teasing.

  He laughed. Her reactions had been enough, he didn’t need his ego stroked any further. He swatted her on the bottom, hard enough to make her arch her back but not feel any real pain. “You’re all sweaty. Go get a shower.”

  “You’re all sweaty yourself. Take—” She stopped and her mouth went open, aghast. “I mean, only if it pleases you, Master Hart. Would you consider joining me?”

  He grinned, delighted. He was in a mood where he’d have let bratty go, perhaps, but it wasn’t what either of them wanted for their dynamic. In that, they were partners, and she’d chosen to set it right. “You’re perfect. And yes, I would.”

  They ended up washing each other, rubbing off the dead skin with a loofah and pressing their soapy bodies together far more than was strictly necessary to get clean. Yeah, I could definitely get used to this.

  Chapter Nine

  Vanessa half expected some kind of strange, kinky instructions as she got dressed. A butt plug, perhaps, to wear under her denim shorts. She felt odd enough going without panties. But he was in a strange mood.

  She didn’t know what to make of it, but she knew if he had ordered her wear a butt plug, she’d have bent over and taken it gratefully. She’d been prepared to give him up. She’d wrapped her mind around it and she might have even made her heart accept. Yeah, it was going to hurt, because she wasn’t built to give up a man easily until he’d turned out to be a total jerk—which most of them did. But she was a big girl and she was pretty sure she could do it.

  Now he was saying they had a future of some kind, and she believed him. Hart wouldn’t lie and wouldn’t lead her on. He had no reason to. He could get what he wanted from her without that, and she was pretty sure he knew it. She had been determined to see out the weekend in role. The sudden change to almost vanilla sex had left her disoriented. Thank god he’d grabbed her hair. She wanted him in charge. She didn’t need him to be all the time, but the notion that at any minute he might seize control—that was hot. That made her wet.

  With only one layer between her and the outside world, she really didn’t want to be getting too aroused. She wasn’t sure how she’d manage that with Hart around. She stole a glance at him. Jeans, snug T-shirt over his firm muscles and an Orioles cap in his hand. A perfectly normal if devilishly handsome man. Ah, but I know the devil runs deeper. She grinned and adjusted her bra. He was watching. He seemed to like her tits. Works for me. Even she thought they looked pretty good when well supported, and she’d picked out an underwire bra with lacy scallops on the top that she thought showed them off to best advantage. She let him ogle for a moment before pulling the halter top on, adjusting it carefully so that the bra didn’t show. “Satisfactory?”

  “Delicious.”

  “Not exactly fetish wear.”

  “Sometimes that’s nice, and sometimes just plain naked is nice. At a ball game, since they are prudes and won’t let you do naked, this is the next best thing.”

  She stuck her tongue out. “No one there wants to see me naked but you.”

  “Oh, I assure you that’s not true.” He crossed the space between them and put his hand on the side of her neck. He stroked softly. “What is true is that no one there gets to see you naked except me unless I say so. And that won’t be happening at the ball park. Just in more private gatherings.”

  She’d stripped off last night for him in front of all those Dominants almost without hesitation. She’d always insisted on wearing at least underwear before, but now she knew that she’d do it again if he asked. Part of what made him dangerous was that she knew she’d follow directions. Probably even if it broke her heart. Dammit, girl, keep your head on your shoulders. He’s still Hart Wolfe. Safe as houses for my body and way too risky for my heart.

  But she knew she was falling for him anyway.

  Hart pulled her to him and rested his big hands on her butt. They felt good there. As though I belong to him. “You look good enough to eat.”

  “Well, you can if you want to,” she replied. Oh, like that thought is going to help me keep these shorts dry.

  “For a change, I didn’t mean it literally. Although.” He slipped a hand between them and insinuated it between her shorts and her thigh. He pushed it inside her, although the tightness of the fabric bunching up stopped him from getting it all the way in. She gasped. She wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or frustrated when he withdrew it, trailing honey down her thigh.

  He lifted his glistening finger to his lips and licked it off. “Yes. Definitely. Good enough to eat.”

  “Tease.”

  “Oh, I intend to deliver. But yes. Stay around me and I will tease you mercilessly, keep you on edge, make you stop at the very edge of coming and leave you wanting all day long. I’ll teach you to come at a command.”

  “As long as you also teach me how best to pleasure you, Master.” She dropped the Hart deliberately, trying to see how he would take it.

  Recognition showed in his eyes. He kissed her. “Don’t call me that,” he said softly, “unless you really mean it.”

  I think maybe I do.

  This is the best time of my life. The most handsome man in the world wants to keep me, and he’s got a kinky imagination and is awesome in bed to boot. The Os are winning by five. And I have chocolate ice cream.

  She licked the cold cream quickly. It was a warm day and it threatened to melt before she could eat it, which made it urgent but oh so delicious. As she swirled her tongue around it she caught him looking at her out of the corner of his eye.

  “Watch the game,” she said. I think I know what he’s thinking about. Maybe I’ll go down on him when we get home. Maybe he’ll order me to. She’d never thought of herself as particularly oral, but she was beginning to develop a fixation.

  “You make it hard to concentrate on it. I’ve never seen anyone look so sexy eating ice cream.”

  “Nonsense,” she said, and slid her mouth over the now reduced helmet of chocolate, letting it all in her mouth a second before moving off. Her whole mouth was cold afterward, but the way his jaw dropped was totally worth it. And here I thought you were always cool and collected.

  Crack! The O’s third baseman drove the ball high and deep, toward the power alley in left center field. She turned to track the flight of the ball, certain it was going to be a home run. She stood up to see over the people in front of her, who had gotten up to cheer. But the ball fell into the glove of the opposition outfielder who camped patiently on the warning track. Hart, she noticed, sat down a moment before everyone else did.

  “You knew that was going to be caught,” she said. It was almost an accusation, as if by giving up on the ball he had caused it to fall short, although she knew that made no sense. He was probably good at sports—he seemed to be good at everything else.

  “Watch the fielders as well as the ball,” Hart said. “They usually know. That guy didn’t have a doubt in the world he was going to catch the ball, and not have to
play it off the wall.”

  That made sense. The ballplayers themselves were the best judges. They were experts. Like Hart, in a way, who was an expert when it came to BDSM. All she had to do was watch him and learn from him. She still didn’t think it was likely he’d keep her forever, but she knew she wanted to stay with him as long as she could. She’d just have to be careful, because it would be so easy to fall in love with him.

  They rose and sang during the seventh-inning stretch, and stayed to watch the last at bat even as the fickle throngs gave up on a home team comeback in favor of an early escape from the parking lot. Hart cheered passionately, she noticed, but never screamed at the players or called the umpires names. It was a sharp contrast to what she remembered growing up, where despite liking baseball she often fled from the family living room because of the anger it seemed to generate.

  He took her to a restaurant near his home after the game, and rejected her attempts to settle for just the salad. “The steak is really good,” he said.

  She patted her tummy. Clearly he could see that she was fat enough?

  “A small one, if you must. Although it wouldn’t hurt too much to indulge now and then.”

  The steak was every bit as good as he said.

  They walked hand in hand from the restaurant as the sun set from the sky. “We don’t have much time before I have to drive you home, but—twenty minutes?”

  She smiled. It was a shame, but she needed to be at work in the morning. Leah was suffering from morning sickness and she didn’t want to add to her partner’s burden. It was just too long a commute from Hart’s place. Not that he’d invited her to spend the night anyway. “I can give you twenty minutes.”

  “When we enter my apartment, I want you to take your clothes off. In fact, every time you enter my apartment, unless I direct otherwise, I want you naked.”

  Every time. Another reminder that they’d become something more than a weekend fling. Her heart beat faster. “Only if it pleases you.”