LOGIN“Your hand is fine.”“You sure?” A loud mechanical buzz sounded next to her ear. “Because I found this on your nightstand.”“I didn’t plan to use it. I swear.”“Such a liar.” He nibbled on the back of her neck, sending a shudder through her. “I think you planned to give yourself a little treat before you fell asleep.”“No.”“Let’s see how this works.” He’d lubed up her rabbit vibrator; the cool silicone easily slipped inside her. He turned on all the moving parts at once—a total blitz on her senses. She’d already teetered on that elusive point and this would kick her right over the edge.When he started pinching the tender skin on the inside of her thighs, she tried to close her legs against the intense pleasure.He hissed, “Don’t deny yourself this. Don’t lie to yourself that you don’t like what I’m doin’ to you.”Why did that feel so good? Was she a masochist for craving more of that pain?Light pinches on her thicker folds of skin gave way to smaller, faster pinches. As she spirale
There was the game-ending blow. It’d been ages since he’d felt such a wash of shame. Since he’d felt like an outcast. And then he topped off those failings with the fear that no decent woman—like Ainsley—would ever love him because of his tendencies. Hidden fears that smacked him in the face today from his cousin’s accusations.Ben remained in the room a long time, emotions warring. He fingered the beautifully made whip. Device of torture? Instrument of pleasure? His supposed expertise gnawed at him. He’d honed his skills on cattle. What would his family say if they knew he regularly used it on people? On women? Would they be ashamed? Should he be ashamed?So Dalton hadn’t been totally off base.Ben felt raw. Used. Confused. Lonely. As much as he’d broadened Ainsley’s horizon, she’d broadened his too. He glanced around the room. He felt nothing. No pride, or excitement or anger. No anticipation for what might be in store for him for future nights with future subs. He just wanted to go
“You oughten be watchin’ me, Zoe. You oughta be focused on how you’re gonna breathe through the first blow. ’Cause I guarantee it’s gonna hurt.”The crowd murmured behind them.“Blindfold her.”Zoe gasped and turned to glare at Ben. “What? No, you can’t—”Ben grabbed her jaw, tilting her face up. “I most certainly can, because you’re the one trussed up in chains, not me. And if you don’t show me respect, since this is now my scene? When I’ve deemed that you are done with the pain portion? I won’t let Brian touch you. At all. All you’ll feel is pain. Nothin’ else. So choose.”She lowered her eyes. “I apologize for my behavior, Sir.”Brian tied on the blindfold.At the first whip crack, the crowd moved back.“Brian. Distract her.”As soon as Brian’s lips touched hers, Zoe relaxed. She arched into him, making soft noises as he broke the kiss.“Count. Starting from one.” Ben placed the first blow on the fleshy part of Zoe’s right shoulder.“One. Thank you, Sir.”Ben kept moving, walking c
“Anything we can help with?”Ben looked from Cliff to Mary Jane. Maybe it was fated they ended up at his table tonight, given the last couple days. He knew Mary Jane had a high-powered job as an oil company executive, so maybe she could shed light on what’d happened with Ainsley. “Would you allow me to speak freely to your sub, Cliff?”“Mary Jane? You have permission to speak to Bennett.”“Thank you, Sir.” Mary Jane raised her eyes to Ben’s. “What may I help you with?”“This might sound like a strange question, but would your job be affected if anyone you worked with discovered you were a sexual submissive?”“In my job right now? Probably not.”See? Ainsley was just making up excuses not to be with you.“But bear in mind I’m five years from retirement. If I was a young woman just starting out? Especially in a male-dominated industry? That would be the kiss of death for my career.”Ben froze.“Also remember I’m a sexual submissive to my husband of three decades. I’m not a single woman
For the first time in two days, Ainsley felt like the world wasn’t crumbling beneath her feet. On a professional level anyway.Leslie looked at them each in turn. “So. What’s it going to be?”Turton wouldn’t meet Ainsley’s gaze. “Make the call.”The district manager was notoriously cranky. After listening to Leslie’s question, he let fly. Chewing out both Ainsley and Turton for overstepping their bounds and reminding them National West assigned a loan officer at that location for a reason. Then he reminded them of their responsibilities and if they were too busy doing someone else’s job, they were neglecting their own. In a totally surprising move, he insisted Ainsley and Turton attend an interpersonal management skills workshop in Denver. Over the weekend. He commended Leslie for her attention to detail. All in all, the phone call was short and to the point.Ainsley sat in stunned silence when the dial tone echoed in the conference room. Turton didn’t say a word. He just left but he’
“Yeah.”“And do what?” She froze when he continued staring at her with that Dom look. “I can’t ever…be that.”Ben frowned. “Be what?”“A lifestyle submissive. Like Layla. With the collar, the full subservience and the discipline whippings.”“For Christsake!” he bellowed. “That’s what you think I want from you?”He never bellowed and Ainsley shrank back.“God, Ainsley, do you really think I’m some kind of controlling monster? That I purposely set out to f**k up your professional life so I could force you into a lifestyle that you’re not suited for, for my own selfish purposes?”When he put it like that, she felt petty. Bitchy. Ben knew all her vulnerabilities. And he’d never used them against her. Not once.But you’ve used his against him. You’re about to use them now.“No. But this circumstance has driven home the point I didn’t know what I was getting into with this Dom/sub thing.”“And now?”“Now I know I was naïve. Stupidly hopeful. Nothing but a tourist.”“What are you saying?” Be
Edward scowled at that, his face growing as dark as a thundercloud.“They crowed over the fact that they had managed to capture both your son and wife.”Edward leaned forward, his eyes intense. “Did they say anything else? Did they identify themselves? Did you recognize their crest?”Slowly she shook h
“There you go again, Keeley,” she mumbled. Her flights of fancy often veered dramatically to the absurd. The tales she spun in her head would make a bard look boring.His colors were unfamiliar to her, but then she had never been farther than McDonald land in her life.She had no hope of getting him t
Gannon threw down the shield and pointed. “Get yourself on it and prepare to be soundly trumped.”Keeley rolled her eyes and settled herself onto the cold metal. “ ’Tis so like a man to allow his pride to go before a fall.”Before she could say yay or nay, or anything else for that matter, Gannon gave
The two watched as the last pail was brought up and the tub brimmed with water. Steam rose in rapid puffs, and Keeley’s eyes rolled back in her head as she imagined getting in.“Well, I’ll leave you to it, lass. Gannon will be outside, so call if you need anything.”Keeley’s cheeks burned. “Gannon! I







