“Damn it, Penelope. I don’t understand a bit of this and I really don’t like it.”
He was confused and he hated it, and she hated that she’d placed him there. He looked so hard on the outside, so polished and smooth like nothing could touch him, but inside he was quite tender. Inside he was still a boy praying that someone would take care of him, love him enough to stay.
She reached out and touched him, cupping his gorgeous face in her hands. “I’m so sorry, Master. I broke trust with you. You said something that hurt me, and I didn’t ask you about it. I took that hurt and put it up like a shield between us to protect myself. It was wrong of me and I hope you can forgive me.”
He shook his head as though trying to clear it. “What did I say?”
She moved closer, brushing her pelvis against him. She sighed when his hands came out to skim the curve of her hips. “You told me if I disobeyed that you would allow every Dom on board to have a go at me.”
Pure confusion was on his face now. “I explained that.”
“Yes, you explained that you meant they could swat my arse. But that wasn’t what I heard.”
His hands tightened as realization seemed to dawn. “You thought…you bloody well thought I would let them fuck you as a punishment? You thought I would let other men use you?”
She was probably in for a few bad moments because there was a righteous indignation in his tone. Perhaps he would handle it a bit better if she showed him just how sorry she was. She took a step back and found her position once more, spreading her legs as wide as she could and allowing her head to fall submissively forward. Her Master had been overstimulated. Between the torture she’d put him through and then all the terror at the church, he’d likely had enough.
“I asked you a question.” Yes, his frustration was right there in his voice.
“Yes, Master. That’s what I thought.” Her arse was already starting to ache, and he hadn’t even touched her yet. She let herself cry because it seemed to move him and because she was done with all the games. The day had been perfectly dreadful and she needed to cry, to let it all out. She loved this lifestyle. It had all gone badly when she had played it vanilla. Kink couples had to talk. They had to communicate about everything and she’d broken that rule.
His hand came down, fingers finding her chin and tipping her head up toward him. His face was tight as he looked down at her. “And you didn’t think about talking to me about it? You thought I was the type of man who would share my submissive with every bloody cock in the place and you didn’t once think about asking me why?”
Put like that it really did sound bad. “I thought about it, Master. Once. Perhaps twice.”
“Those tears aren’t going to save you. Are you mine?”
An easy question. “Yes.”
“Say it again.”
She smiled up at him. He really did like that particular word. “Yes.”
He shook his head. “No. Not that. What you said before. I want to hear it again.”
“I love you, Damon.” She hoped he could see to her soul so he would know just how much she meant those words.
“I will never share you with anyone.” His voice was rough with emotion. “Do you know what it took for me to not put a bullet in that arsehole who hit you today?”
It wouldn’t ever matter that the man was defending himself. Damon would try to protect her, defend her, avenge her if need be. “I thank you, Master, for being so indulgent.”
It had been an indulgence on his part, and now she could see how much he’d bent for her.
“Not again, Penelope. You will not go in the field again. There’s no reason for it. Your gorgeous self is staying on this bloody boat until I come back for you. Is that understood?”
“But I was good in the field.” Except for a sore shoulder where she’d hit the brick wall, she was perfectly fit.
“Penelope.”
Just one word and she knew she’d pushed him to his limit. “Yes, Master. I’ll stay on the boat or wherever you put me.”
It was better that way. Damon spent all his time trying to keep her safe. He needed to focus on the job at hand.
“I don’t like it when you won’t talk to me.”
Translation. You hurt me.
“I’m sorry, Master. I won’t do it again.”
“You have to tell me what you feel. It’s important to D/s.”
Translation. I need honesty to feel close to you.
“I promise. I’ll be honest. Even when I’m hurt. Especially when I’m hurt because I don’t think you ever mean to hurt me.”
“I do mean to hurt your arse, Penelope.”
Translation. I’m horny, but I’ll make you beg before you get my cock. Yes, she was learning Damon’s language quite nicely.
“I can handle it, Master.” Her heart clenched a little at the smile that broke over his face.
“On the bed. All fours. I’m not going easy on you because you decided to cry prettily and apologize.”
She scrambled to obey. That needed no translation, though she knew some of it was bluster. He’d never harmed her. His version of torture brought about the sweetest pleasures she’d ever known.
“I want you to understand something. After this is over, I’m not letting you go. You’re mine, damn it, and it’s going to stay that way. You’re going to keep that collar on forever. And if you ever take it off, you won’t bloody well appreciate the spanking I give you. I swear every smack will be from my hand and when I get tired, I’ll switch to the flogger.” His hand came out, cupping her arse. “Who does this belong to?”
“It’s yours, Master. It’s all yours.” Everything she had or was or had been belonged to him. Everything she would be was his. For as long as she lived.
She tried not to think about it any other way. Damon was reckless, stubborn. He would likely die long before her, but she wouldn’t stop loving him. She would just wait until the day she could join him again.
He smacked her, his hand covering her cheek with heat and that flare of sensation that got her moaning. Once, twice, three times.
“You will not shut me out.” Four. Five and six. “You will talk to me when you’re angry. I’m your Dom. I’m your lover. You will tell me what’s wrong.” Seven and eight and nine.
She thought about mentioning that what was wrong right now was that her arse was on fire, but decided to hold that bit back. “Yes, Master.”
She cried, letting it all out. The day had been dreadful despite the fact that it had turned out all right. Now that she was here with him, she could let go.
“That’s right, love. Let it all out. Let it go. You’re safe now.”
She lost track of the number of times he spanked her. It didn’t matter. What mattered was their connection and the fact that she didn’t have to hide her pain. She cried and cried, the tears purifying her in a way she’d never known possible.
After what seemed like forever, he stopped, pulling her up into his arms. He shifted her around.
“Don’t ever leave me.” Translation. I love you. I missed you. I can’t live without you.
She saw him through her tears. She saw how vulnerable he was. He’d made himself vulnerable for her, only for her. “I love you, Damon. I won’t ever leave you.”
His mouth slammed on hers, his tongue surging inside. His arms caged her, holding her to his chest so her nipples rubbed against the fabric of his shirt. His hands moved lower, cupping the cheeks he’d recently set ablaze and dragging her against him, grinding his erection on her. “I need you.”
“You have me.” She let him press her down to the bed, the ache in her bum strangely erotic. She spread her legs, her pussy already wet and warm. The spanking got her primed for her Master.