“It wasn’t a question. And I wasn’t asking for permission. I’m telling you what will happen, unless you’re giving me your safe word. That clear?”
“Very.”
“Good. Do you have a word in mind?”
“I—I don’t know. I’ve never . . .” She shrugged, looking a little lost. “What’s your recommendation?”
“Let’s use the traffic light system for now. It’s something you’ll remember.” He gave her a wry grin. “I want to try a million perverse acts on you and watch you respond. If I’m hurting you too much or doing something you absolutely don’t want, call ‘red.’ If I’m approaching the edge of your comfort zone, say ‘yellow.’ Make sense?”
She nodded, looking at him with eager eyes that glowed green and needy. Knowing he’d put that expression on her face revved him up even more.
As much as Axel wanted to tear through her clothes and shove his cock into her now, he forced himself to take a breath. Much like that first kiss she’d pressed onto his lips, their initial sexual encounter didn’t really count because he hadn’t known that he’d been touching Mystery. And she hadn’t felt the way he would make her body his.
He intended to change that.
“Do you know any of your limits, hard or soft?”
A relieved smile flitted across her face. “I told Heath you were responsible and would ask. He wouldn’t listen to me. Instead, he suggested you’d whip me until I bled or make me sleep with a stranger . . .” She shook her head, her aversion to either of those possibilities clear. “Just no.”
“I don’t know where the hell he heard that, but rest easy. Neither of those are in my wheelhouse. In fact, I’d go so far to say they’re a hard limit for me.”
The relief in her expression deepened. “He said he saw those things during an undercover mission in London.”
He raised a brow. “Not in a club with Dominion’s reputation. Thorpe has strict rules and an even more stringent membership screening. Everything that happens here is both consensual and well supervised. Whatever Heath saw must have been in a private hardcore club. I like rough play now and then, but nothing like that.”
She seemed to sigh with relief. “Good.”
“So, any boundaries I need to respect? A soft limit is something that both scares and intrigues you. You’re not sure you want to . . . but you’re not sure you don’t.”
“I like bondage. I mean, I like the idea of it.” She blushed profusely. “I’ve never done it, but the thought of it turns me on.”
“I like it, too. A lot. We’ll definitely go there. What else?”
“The spanking was nice. Not so much the first smack, but the rest . . .” She gave him a dreamy smile, and he held in a chuckle. “I’ve seen a video with a Dom wielding a soft flogger on his sub’s butt. That looked interesting. But I don’t know how I feel about anal sex or exhibitionism or so many other things.”
Because she’d never tried them out. If he had his way, they’d eliminate whoever threatened her, then he’d spend however long it took to become exactly the Dom and lover she needed.
“Floggers are fine,” he said, then gave her a slow smile. “Anal? I love the hell out of it, but it’s not for everyone. Exhibitionism doesn’t appeal to me much, but I’m not against it, either. At the end of the day, I’m the kind of Dom who prefers to do one thing above alclass="underline" get in your head and own you.”
A visible tremor went through her body. Yeah, she wanted what he could give her. She sought the physical surrender, but she ached to yield her soul even more.
“You can do that, can’t you?” Her voice shook as if the possibility aroused her terribly.
“Oh, little girl . . . I can do it so fast, you won’t know what hit you or how to stop it, and you won’t care because you’ll have given every thought, along with your aching pussy, to me.”
As he watched her breath catch again, her nipples bead tighter, Axel repressed a smile. The girl liked a dirty mouth. He’d give her that, too.
“I have a few other rules,” he began, running a fingertip between her luscious breasts before cupping the weight of one in his palm and caressing it with his thumb.
She almost threw herself against his body, then seemed to remember he’d told her to assume this position and sat on her heels again. “Yes, Axel.”
“You don’t come until you’re given permission. But unless I say otherwise, don’t hold back your sighs, whimpers, pleas, or screams. They’re mine, and I want them all.”
“Yes, Axel.” She shifted her hips from one side to the other.
Clearly, Mystery had a bad little habit of trying to ease her desire whenever she pleased.
He gripped her shoulders. “Hold still and stop trying to make your pussy throb less.”
Instantly, she complied, but she bit her lip as if the ache was too overwhelming to ignore.
He stroked his fingers across her cheek, then wrapped them around her nape. “You think you’re aroused and want me to fuck you now?” When she nodded, he smiled. “Just wait. I’ll make you beg—with your mouth, those nervous hands you’re wringing, your wide eyes. You’ll offer yourself to me with your words, your pouting nipples, your spread legs. When you really know what it’s like to need me to fuck you and you’ve begged sweetly, then I’ll make you scream.”
Mystery closed her eyes and dragged in a ragged breath. “I know you will. I think I’ve always known that.”
Just like on some basic, elemental level, Axel had always known that she would not only torque up his desire but drive his Dominance to new heights and fascinate him completely.
“More beautiful honesty. Excellent.”
She sent him a placid smile. It pleased her to please him. What would please him more was to have her naked. He could tell her to strip, but he wanted to unwrap her like a special gift.
Taking her braid in hand, he eased the elastic band from the ends and combed his fingers through her damp tresses. They spilled everywhere around her shoulders, brushed her waist, with soft curls that shined under the golden light from the ceiling fixture. Then he lifted the T-shirt from her curves. The stretchy knit skimmed her waist and caught on her heavy breasts.
As he pulled it over her head, she sat, spine straight, watching him raptly. Damn it, she wore another one of those frilly bras that short-circuited his brain completely. Her nipples were barely contained by the half cups. Only the upward curve of scalloped lace concealed them at all. They poked at the fabric, a deep rosy brown that had his mouth watering.
“You always have the sexiest lingerie,” he breathed as he lifted her breast in his palm and dipped his thumb under the edge of the lace.
Her nipple jumped to even stiffer attention. “I like how feminine I feel when I wear it. And I like your reaction to it.”
“That bra and panties I hand washed for you at the ghost town? As soon as I took them from the water and set them on the towel rack, I had to jack off. I knew if I didn’t, I’d picture you wearing them and you’d be flat on your back with your legs spread for me.”
Mystery closed her eyes. She fucking glowed with arousal. She wanted this, wanted him . . .
As badly as he yearned to pounce on her, Axel couldn’t. He had to take her slowly, introduce her to some of the kinks he’d like to share with her, convince her without words that she’d be satisfied long, well, and often.
He reached behind her and unclasped the bra. Her breasts bounced free. Damn, he wanted those nipples in his mouth, wanted to know if a bite of pain would excite her.
“Up on your knees,” he demanded.
Swallowing hard, she raised her butt from her heels. Her body strained toward him. Even her nipples pointed straight at him. Axel couldn’t wait to give her everything she craved.
He wrapped his big hands around her torso. She looked so small comparatively. So soft and submissive. Spreading his legs wider to make room in between, he lifted her closer. Then he bent and kissed her lips, her jaw, dragging his mouth down her neck, then the swell of one breast.