Total pages in book: 113
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Taking my time, I stood to my full height and studied her for signs of distress, but couldn’t find any. Especially when her chin sank to her chest, hiding her face from my view.
Unable to take the disconnection, I gripped her chin and tilted her head back to look at me, still finding the confusion, but also relief, gratitude, and something else I couldn’t decipher. Not the panic from earlier, but some kind of hurt lingering behind her gaze.
“Well, ladies and gentlemen, it seems Lucian didn’t quite have what it took to make our submissive of the night orgasm,” Corbin announced, making his way back on stage. “But we will have this toy available for everyone to try, should you find yourself with a bratty submissive.”
While he continued to speak about the product and various ways to utilize it, I untied Aspen’s bonds. After removing each stretch of rope, I gently massaged her skin, stroking across the braided indents decorating her flesh. I stayed attuned to her throughout the process, knowing the release from Shibari could be intense, even after a short period of time.
I alternated between kneading the tense muscles and soft strokes, savoring the glide of my thumb across the dips and rises left behind by the rope. Sounds faded as I lost myself in the silken honey skin under my calloused grip. Finished with her wrists, I slid down to my knees and gently dug into her thighs, marveling at the soft give before hitting flexing muscles. They were the perfect thighs for fucking while standing. Strong enough to grip my hips, but soft enough to hold on to.
“You don’t have to—” she started, pulling me from the daze of idolizing her skin.
“I do.” I glanced up to her wide eyes, glossy from her own daze my ministrations sent her into. Pride swelled through me, expanding my chest. “I want to.” The soft words sounded like a confession—one that rang with too much honesty and more raw emotion than I ever allowed myself to feel. Snapping my gaze back to her legs, I shifted my attention to her ankles, attempting to explain more curtly. “As your Dom, it adds to my own pleasure to care for you from beginning to end.”
That was twice in one session I had to rein in a growing warmth I’d locked away long ago. Tightening my control, I focused on soothing the abrasions on her ankles, refusing to think about how much I liked her slim ankles engulfed in my rough hands. I forced myself to ignore the images of how easy it would be to grip them, holding them wide while she laid on her back, keeping her completely exposed to me—leaving her open for me to fuck her however I wanted.
“It helps to stretch after,” I suggested, rotating her ankles, trying for a distraction.
She nodded, extending her arms and rolling her wrists.
“Do you need water?” Corbin asked.
“I’ll get it.” I jumped at the opportunity to collect myself, heading over to the table and grabbing the water bottle.
When I turned back, Corbin stared me down. I ignored his studious gaze and focused on Aspen. I wasn’t ready for an interrogation from my friend when I didn’t know the answers myself.
“That was amazing,” Rose gushed to Aspen once we left the stage, curling her arm around Corbin’s waist. “You were absolutely stunning. And the way everything stayed hidden under your dress…” She groaned. “So hot.”
“Thank you,” Aspen said softly.
“So, are you going to continue exploring?” Rose asked with a devil’s smile.
Before Aspen could respond, I answered for us both. “Not tonight. I think we’re going to head out.” I kept my attention on Rose, sensing both Aspen and Corbin’s questioning gaze on either side of me.
“Of course,” she said before talking to Aspen. “Well, I hope I get to see you again. Maybe we can all get together, and you can update me on this whole business drama you have going on.”
“Rose,” Corbin warned.
“What?” she asked, all innocence.
Corbin gave her a knowing stare before shaking his head. For a dominant, he was complete putty in that woman’s hands.
An ache bloomed in my chest, right around the same spot Aspen kept igniting a forgotten warmth. As if a lingering desire still dug itself deep into a now empty pit that used to be full of wanting that same bond that Corbin and Rose had. Then the memory of what happened the last time I let myself be putty for a woman burned that ache to ash under fiery anger, going out so quickly it sucked any heat away with it.
“Thank you for allowing me to observe tonight,” Aspen said.
“Of course. Maybe you’ll become our newest member,” Rose suggested.
Aspen shrugged with a smile. “Maybe.”
We said our goodbyes and, with my hand pressed against the small of her back, made our way through the labyrinth of hallways. This time not stopping until we reached the heavy brown doors that led out to the lobby. Despite having been a couple of hours, it felt like lifetimes had passed—like something shifted between us, leaving us on a precipice of change.