He nodded. “I know that. But Jayne, you enjoy it. You can’t fake that. You’re a natural submissive.”
“You’re right. I am. But what if it goes deeper than that?”
He studied her face. “Meaning?”
“What if I can’t turn it off? What if I give in to my submissive nature and it takes over?”
“You want to be a full-time slave?”
Jayne shook her head. “Hell no. I couldn’t do that.”
“Good. I don’t want that either. But you’re right. You’ve been holding back.”
She couldn’t deny it. He didn’t even pose it as a question. But she knew his secret too. “So have you.”
He frowned. “I suppose I have. I haven’t even scratched the surface on all the ways I want to take you, Jayne. So I’ll rescind my previous decision. The game will continue. One more night. Tonight. Both of us release the restraints and give in to our true natures.”
Panic attacked. Elias must have noticed because he stood quickly, dropping to his knees before her. He took her hands in his.
“I promise I won’t let you disappear. Give in to what you want, who you are, and I swear to you, tomorrow you’ll still be here. The same beautiful Jayne.”
She didn’t reply immediately. She wanted to give in but fear tugged. Jayne recalled his comment. It was all or nothing. If she walked away from him tonight, she’d lose him forever.
She wasn’t willing to make that sacrifice.
“Okay.”
Elias rose. His expression darkened, taking on that stern mask that made her panties go wet. Then she realized…it wasn’t a mask. He was giving her everything—the real Elias.
“You need to know how dark my desires run.”
She was finished hiding. “Show me.”
Elias gripped her upper arm, leading her to the hallway. She began to turn toward the bedroom but he stopped her.
“This way.”
He opened a door she hadn’t noticed when she’d been there previously. Slowing his pace, he used his firm grasp on her arm to support her as they descended the stairs into the basement. She wondered why he didn’t turn on a light.
When they reached the bottom, he paused. “Last chance, Jayne. If you stay, I expect you to give me everything. No holding back.”
It sounded ominous. Wonderful. “I won’t.”
“Tonight, you’re mine.”
Jayne had never heard three sweeter words.
“What’s your safe word?”
She licked her lips, her arousal building. “Scotch.”
“Don’t forget it.”
Lights flooded the basement, temporarily blinding her. She was facing him, her back to the room, but she didn’t have time to take in anything before he issued an order.
“Strip.”
She started to turn but he cupped her cheeks. “Look at me while you do it.”
Her hands flew to her coat then her shirt. She kept her eyes on his face, equal parts terrified and excited about what the room held. She’d read about dungeons and could only begin to imagine what sorts of things Elias’ basement held.
Once she was completely naked, she dropped her arms to her sides and awaited his next command. Elias stepped closer and she saw so many wonderful emotions written on his face. He looked hopeful and loving. Determined. Hungry.
She’d never loved him more.
As he stepped up to her, he gently stroked her face, down her neck. Then he bent to kiss her. “My beautiful, brave woman,” he murmured. “You’re not allowed to touch me. Break that rule and I’ll bind your hands. You can touch anything else in this room. Understand?”
She nodded.
He tilted his head and waited.
“Yes sir.”
He ran his fingers through her hair. “Turn around.”
Jayne obeyed—then stood still for a moment, trying to school her features. The act was futile. Elias probably expected her to be afraid, but curiosity and arousal took over.
“Oh my God.”
He frowned, misunderstanding her tone. “Jayne—”
“Wow.” She slowly walked around the huge space, trying to take in everything. A large St. Andrew’s Cross stood against one wall. When she stopped in front of it, Elias stepped behind her and pushed her forward until she was pressed against the cool surface. He lifted her arms, holding them against the top posts.
“Leave your hands there.”
She wasn’t bound to the structure by anything more than his command. It was enough.
“There will be times when I’ll chain you like this. I’ll push you against the cross, strapping you tightly to that cold padding.” As he spoke, his hands lightly caressed her back, her hips, her legs. “You’ll be spread out, helpless. I’ll spank you, flog you, tease you with toys.”
Jayne swallowed heavily, wondering if she could convince him to do it all right now. She didn’t have a chance to ask. Elias twisted her until her back was pressed to the cross. Again he lifted her arms but left her unrestrained.
“Other times you’ll be tied like this, facing the room, able to see everything I’m going to do to you.”
She shivered, needing his heat. “Do it now.”
He chuckled. “You want what I’m offering?”
She nodded.
“Would I be taking it from you, forcing it on you? Or would it be your choice?”
She understood what he was asking. “I would choose it.”
“Does that make you weak?”
“No,” she whispered.
He took her arm and they walked to another piece of furniture nearby. “Can you guess what this is?”
She recognized it from one of her countless internet searches. She’d read everything she could get her hands on since embarking on her affair with Elias. “A spanking bench.”
He squeezed her hand gently. “Something tells me we’re going to get a lot of use out of that.”
She laughed, recognizing his words as the truth. She still had to learn about being a submissive. Of course, she didn’t want to get
too
good at it. She’d never want to miss the fun that device promised.
“Try it out. I want to confirm something.”
Jayne bit her lip. She’d been busted.
“I know you have the plug in, Jayne. I can tell by the way you’re walking. Bend over the bench and let me see it.”
While his words thrilled her, she was worried about his response when he realized what she’d done.
She knelt on a low cushioned step then waited, uncertain what to do next. Elias placed his hand on her head, pressing gently, directing her to lean forward over the upper part of the bench until her abdomen and head were supported, her ass high, exposed. She didn’t turn around to see his face. Instead she closed her eyes.
“What the—” His hand landed on her ass. She jerked at the gentle touch. Her body had been primed and ready to receive a spanking.
“This isn’t the plug I gave you.”
“No,” she confessed, refusing to look up. “That one was smaller. I thought—”
“I know what you thought.” His voice was deep, angry. She was surprised when he knelt by her head. “Look at me, Jayne.”
She twisted her head to face him.
“There are some decisions that
won’t
be yours to make. Do you know why?”
“When I give myself to you, when I pledge to be your submissive, my pleasure becomes your responsibility. I’m entrusting that to you.”
“That’s right. Does that make you weak?”
She shook her head.
“That plug is too big and you’ve left it in for too long. I can tell you’re suffering. The only reason I’m not punishing you is because you said
when
, not
if
, you become my submissive.”
“Will you take it out?”
“Yes.”
He stood, stepping behind her. She closed her eyes, sighing happily when his hand gently caressed her ass for a few moments before grasping the base.
She struggled to fill her lungs with air as he pulled the plug out. It had hurt like hell going in, but she’d persevered, determined to prove to Elias she could make her own decisions, determine her own course. She’d been a fool.
Once the toy was removed, he reached down, gripping her arm and pulling her up. Disappointment wafted through her. She opened her mouth to beg him to take her, but he raised one finger and pointed it at her.
“Don’t say a word. It’s taking every ounce of strength in my body not to spank your ass for doing that to yourself. Never again, Jayne. Swear it.”
“I promise. I shouldn’t have done that.”
Elias stood quiet for several moments. She watched him steady his breathing, pull his emotions back under control. His care touched her so deeply, a lump formed in her throat. She felt guilty for causing him such anguish.
Finally, Elias took her hand and led her farther into the room. There was a large table covered with a thick leather pad. Elias followed her line of vision. “That’s a bondage table.” Then he pointed to a bench nearby. “And that’s an exposer bench. The names pretty much say it all.”
Jayne ran her hand along the leather-covered table then she ventured to the exposer bench, imagining all the ways Elias would restrain her there. He stepped closer, taking her wrists and pulling them behind her back. He held them, letting her feel the loss of her freedom.
“There’s a bench like this at a sex club I belong to. Would you let me tie you to that one?”
She nodded.
“I want to show you off. Let the other Doms see and admire my beautiful submissive. Let them touch you, pleasure you.”
Jayne could barely catch her breath. Elias wrapped his free arm around her, pinching her nipple. He was driving her to the brink with nothing more than words, promises and light touches. He tightened his grip on her wrists as his pinches grew rougher.
“You want other men to touch you while I watch?”
“Yes sir.”
“Does that make you weak?”
Tears formed at the corners of her eyes as his words finally began to sink in. Elias would give her everything she’d ever dreamed of, take her places she’d never hoped to see. But he’d never take away her right to choose, never take something she wasn’t willing to give.
She shook off his grasp and turned. He was there, waiting for her with open arms. He embraced her. “Do you understand now?”
“Yes.”
He held her for several moments and then, in true Elias form, he found a way to ease the heavy moment with humor. “You haven’t run from the room screaming. Yet. So I think I’ll push my luck.” He directed her to the back wall and the large shelf hanging there. “I made this myself.” He ran his hand over the wood. It was beautiful, but her gaze was captured by the huge array of floggers, whips and crops it contained. Jayne slowly studied the contents, trying to imagine the feeling each instrument would produce on her skin.
“Jayne?”
“You’re not getting rid of me that easy.”
He kissed the top of her head. “Good girl. Then let’s see the rest.”
She let him lead her to the final area in the room. Against the fourth wall was the biggest bed she’d ever seen. Velcro straps dangled from all four bedposts, and a long table next to it was neatly arranged with candles, dildos, butt plugs, blindfolds, clamps and vibrators.
“Holy crap. Sex party central.”
He cupped her face. “I can’t wait any longer, Jayne. I need you.”
“I’m tired of fighting this, Elias. I love you. I want to be with you. No more games.”
An amazing transformation took place in Elias. The comfortable friend and the sexy Dom came together as he looked at her with love, lust, awe. He took her breath away.
He placed his hand on her back and led her to the center of the room. Her gaze landed upon a large hook with manacles that hung from the ceiling. There were eyehooks screwed into the floor beneath, several feet apart.
He walked toward the shelf of whips, searching. Picking up the riding crop, he came back to her. He paused, giving her a chance to respond.
“I want this. I choose it.”
“Jayne. You shatter me.”
She understood the sentiment. She felt the same way. Time stood still as they faced each other.
Elias saw everything he’d ever wanted when he looked into Jayne’s sky-blue eyes. He tossed the crop to the bed behind him then lifted her hands above her head, snapping the leather manacles in place. The position pushed her breasts up and out. Elias couldn’t resist. Bending his head, he sucked one tight nipple into his mouth while he pinched the other.
Jayne groaned, pressing against him, seeking more of his attentions. She still had too much freedom.
He pulled away and she started to protest. He placed a finger against her lip and shook his head. “You’re not to speak unless asked a direct question.”
She opened her mouth and he wondered if she’d break the rule so quickly. Despite her innate submissive tendencies, Jayne had a long way to go in terms of embracing that part of her nature. He didn’t care. They had all the time in the world now. He’d teach her.
He walked to the table by the bed and retrieved another set of manacles. While he was there, he covertly slipped a few more things in his pocket.