Alex lifted his hand to cup her chin, tilting her face toward him.
“Look at me, Elizabeth. You’re wondering if I’m going to order you to sit here half naked, right?”
“Yes, Sir.” She looked directly into his eyes, but they told her nothing, only that he was in control and he wanted her to know it.
“Would it bother you?”
Would it? She’d been with other Doms who enjoyed displaying their subs so others could envy them. Only it had been so long…
“I asked you a question,” he prompted.
“No, Sir. I am here to please you.”
A hot smile curved his lips. “You’re right. And it would please me for others to see what a beautiful sub I have.”
He pulled the zipper down the rest of the way and eased the vest down her arms. She shivered slightly, sitting there naked from the waist up, but not from cold. He was going to tease her, draw this out before they went to a private room. Before she could eventually find releases for the intense orgasm already building inside her.
“You have gorgeous nipples.” He rolled one between thumb and forefinger then squeezed it hard enough to cause a small bite of pain.
A couple passing by stopped, examining her with frank curiosity.
“May I?” the man asked, reaching out a hand.
Alex smiled but shook his head. “Just for looking. That’s all.”
“A real pleasure to take a look,” the man drawled.
Alex nodded, but he slid his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. You’re mine. It was as plain as if he’d shouted it.
The couple stood in front of them for a long moment, the man’s eyes hard and hungry, the woman with her hand linked through his arm. Then they moved on.
Alex signaled the waitress and ordered tonic and lime for both of them. Liz sat quietly sipping at her drink, shoulders back the way she knew Alex expected, while he murmured in her ear and caressed her breasts. Every few minutes, he slid his hand beneath her skirt, testing her wetness.
“You’ve been perfect, sitting here so others can admire my wonderful sub. I’m very proud of you.”
A thrill danced through her, her cunt throbbing, her nipples hardening even more. It had been a long time since she’d heard those words.
No. Forget at all. This is here and now. This is Alex, hot and hungry.
“Are you eager to be fucked tonight?” He pinched the tip of her clit. “I have some special things in store for you.” He nipped her ear lobe. “I can hardly wait.”
Alex watched Liz carefully as he alternately played with her nipples and stroked her pussy. Her body was humming like a tuning fork, no doubt about it. But he could see all the conflicting emotions at war in her eyes. She wanted to be here—wanted to be with him. He was sure of that or she wouldn’t have come back again. But there was still a nugget of resistance bouncing around inside her.
Had her last relationship turned bad? Unfortunately, many Doms not only carried punishment to extremes but verbally degraded their subs. Alex always felt they should have a role reversal for one night and see things from the other end of the stick. So to speak.
He wouldn’t mind wielding that stick himself. When a sub gave trust to a Dom, it was a very special thing. Abusing that trust was the worst kind of betrayal.
So maybe that was part of her reserve. The other part was connecting with someone she had met who was part of her everyday existence. He’d been shocked the other night, too, at finding her here. Liz Gillibrand had an enviable reputation as a woman with a firm hand on a horse, a student and most definitely her employees. But so often that kind of woman made the best sub. In the bedroom, with a man they could trust, they could give up that control.
When he’d met her at the Lucky L, the air of sensuality that surrounded her even as she stood there sweaty and dirty made his cock swell painfully in his jeans. But then, to meet her here at Rawhide…
Hell, since their session the other night, he hadn’t been able to think of anything except her. On his bed. Hands and feet restrained. Her body wide open to everything he wanted to do to her.
He realized the moment he laid eyes on her tonight that she was conflicted. With any other woman, he would have been friendly and polite and walked away. But he wanted Elizabeth Gillibrand more than he’d ever wanted another female. And not just for a session now and then at Rawhide. Something deep and elemental clicked between them. He knew in his bones she felt it, too.
But he would have to inch his way into it. Go very slow. That was okay with him. The prize was worth it.
Exposing her body like this had been a risk, but it was working. The tension of anxiety in her body was slowly being replaced by that of sexual arousal.
“You have a gorgeous body,” he said, stroking the length of her spine. “I want people to envy me.”
She kept her eyes lowered, but a tiny smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Are you always so arrogant, Sir?”
“My male Texas pride.” He chuckled. “And I’ll overlook that little sign of disrespect because it shows me you’re getting comfortable with me again. But this is the last time. Understood?”
“Yes, Sir.” The voice was soft, but the ghost of a smile still lingered on her face.
Impertinent sub. He swallowed his laughter. Tonight he’d make her beg. He’d gotten a sense of her limits the other night. Now he was ready to push them a little. And make her like it.
“I think we’re ready to leave the crowd now.” He rose and held out his hand to her.
She took it, standing gracefully. Picking up her vest, he led her out of the main room, down the corridor to the room he’d reserved earlier.
Chapter Five
Alex watched Liz take in the huge bed in the center of the room, with its many straps and manacles attached, then the array of discipline items on the wall and finally to the table displaying a variety of toys.
“You’ll enjoy this,” he said, reassuring her as much as commanding her. “You remember your safeword?”
“Lullaby.”
“Good. Real good.” He pulled her toward him, gripped her face, and licked the entire surface of her lips. Very slowly. Her lips were like satin, smooth and warm. He could spend hours just tasting them. He outlined the edges with his tongue before pressing against the closed seam and thrusting inside.
She opened to him willingly, her own tongue dancing with his. Her flavor was better than any bourbon he’d ever tasted, seeping into his system and flowing straight to his cock. His balls ached and his blood pounded as he tilted her head to give him a better angle.
And he hadn’t done anything yet but kiss her!
Hell. He couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he’d felt this addicted to a woman. He’d better keep his wits about him or he’d lose the control so essential to this relationship.
He allowed himself another moment to trail his mouth down the column of her neck and suck on each rosy nipple. Then he forced himself to pull away, fisting his hands to get his breathing under control.
Alex looked at her, flushed, her breasts heaving with each breath, and wondered if he’d ever get enough of her. “Remove the skirt,” he ordered, shoving his hands in his pockets to keep from ripping the garment off himself.
Still keeping her gaze properly lowered, she unfastened the one button, slid the zipper down and let the skirt fall to the floor. She stepped out of the puddle of fabric and waited for his next instruction.
“Go to the bed and bend over the footboard. Spread your arms wide.”
Obediently, she moved to the bed and arranged herself as he directed, her nicely rounded ass presented for him. He ran the palm of one hand over each cheek. Squeezing and lightly pinching. Liz raised on her tiptoes and wiggled her ass.
“Impertinent sub,” he chuckled.
He studied her for a moment then brought the flat of his hand down on her skin. She jerked slightly, startled, but made no sound. He smiled at the reddened marks of his fingers on her skin.