The Collar (The Submissive 6)

can come when you’re able, and there’s no need to be silent.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He brushed his mouth back and forth across the juncture where her thigh met her body. “You’re welcome.”

He placed tiny kisses along the apex of her legs, ignoring for a moment the spots he knew longed for his touch. Making her wait for it would only increase her pleasure. From kisses, he progressed to nibbles and then to a soft bite on the flesh above her clit.

“I can’t wait to taste you,” he murmured against her skin.

“Please, Sir.”

He leisurely licked her entrance from one end to the other, dipping his tongue into her briefly. On his next pass, he ended with a lick to her clit and then settled his mouth over her and flicked that sensitive area with his tongue.

“Oh, fuck, yes,” she panted.

Her muscles tensed as she tried to hold back her orgasm. He took the end of the plug and moved it in and out in time with the actions of his tongue. She wouldn’t be able to hold back much longer, and he wanted to drive her to the brink.

From their years together, he knew exactly where and how to touch her, and he used all that knowledge to drive her closer and closer to the release her body craved. He fucked her with his tongue and ran his teeth along her sensitive flesh.

Within minutes, her body tensed further, and she softly came around his tongue. Wanting to push her into a second release, he pulled the plug out while at the same time pushing two fingers inside to press against her G-spot.

“Fuck!” she screamed as the second climax hit.

Satisfied he’d made her forget whatever happened at work, he climbed up on the table and pulled her into his embrace so they were spooning. She sighed and snuggled against him.

“I’m not finished yet.” He spoke coarsely into her ear while dropping a hand between her legs and pumping two fingers inside her. “Come for me again, Dena. Give me your pleasure one more time.”

“I can’t, Sir.” But already he felt her body tremor as her arousal grew.

“Are you lying to me?”

“I didn’t think I could, Sir,” she panted. “But, fuck, I think I can.”

“Oh, I know you can.” He pushed his fingers deeper. “Fucking you with my fingers feels so good. You’re pushing your ass against me, trying to make me go harder.”

She bucked against him, brushing his erection, and for a minute he thought he might come in his pants, but he did his best to ignore his need and turned his energy toward her. He brushed his thumb around her clit, and her inner muscles tightened around his fingers as her third climax crashed over her.

He stroked her back while her breathing and racing heart calmed. Dropped his head into her hair and inhaled, breathing in the smell of her. His chest hurt because he knew he had to tell her now. He couldn’t wait until morning.

“Will you let me take care of you, Sir?” she asked, snaking her hand behind her.

“Not right now,” he said, surprised at the catch in his voice. “It’s not a good time.”

“Why not?” She turned in his arms and stopped cold when she saw his expression. “What’s wrong?”

“Dad’s dying,” he stated simply. “Prostate cancer. Advanced. He’s not retiring.”

“Oh, Jeff.” She palmed his cheek. “I’m so sorry.”

He nodded.

“You have to go,” she said.

“I know. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. I haven’t had any luck finding out who’s threatening you. I’ve been through your old cases and I’ve been able to rule out anyone you’ve prosecuted.”

“I’ll be fine. You need to be with your dad.”

“You know damn well I’m not leaving you alone right now.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “So what are you going to do?”

He took a deep breath. “Nathaniel has agreed for you to stay with him and Abby in New York while I’m gone.” He waited for her to explode and argue that she wasn’t going to do it, but though her face showed shock, she didn’t say anything at first.

Finally, she spoke slowly. “I think that would be the best option for everyone.”

“You’re not going to argue with me?”

“Give me some credit, why don’t you. I’m not the important one in this equation. Your dad’s dying and you need to be with him. If my staying with Nathaniel and Abby will help you get through this time, I’d be petty to argue.”

He was in awe of the woman in his arms. Just when he thought he understood her, when he thought he knew exactly what she’d do, she’d surprise the hell out of him. He tightened his arms around her. “Thank you.”

Chapter Ten

Present day

Hours later, Dena rolled onto her side in the guest bed. Her mind wouldn’t slow down enough for sleep to catch her. Between thinking about Jeff moving to Colorado and her own move to New York, paired with the orgasms she’d had earlier, she decided she’d probably be awake for another few hours.

Jeff hadn’t said when he was heading across country, but she had the feeling it would be soon. After all, from the way it sounded, his father didn’t have much time left. She wasn’t ready to leave Jeff’s house, but she hadn’t put up a fuss about moving in with Nathaniel and Abby, partially because she didn’t want to go back to her empty apartment.

With Jeff leaving, there was one thing she had to do before moving out of his house. She had to face the empty nursery at the end of the hall. The door was always closed, unlike every other door in the house, and she wondered why. Had Jeff shut that door in an attempt to shut off his feelings associated with it?

Maybe, she thought, if she could deal with seeing the nursery again, she’d be able, once and for all, to put that part of her past behind her. She’d never felt as if she had closure after her grief over the miscarriage. Hell, she’d never really even spoken about it with Jeff.

She sat up and swung her legs to the side of the bed. Yes, seeing the nursery would be one of the final steps in her healing process. She left her room and walked softly down the hall. Jeff’s door was closed. Once again he’d ended a scene without taking his own release, but she felt certain he’d done something about it once he was by himself.

She decided not to dwell on how much that hurt. Why wouldn’t he allow her to pleasure him? Surely he knew how much she loved getting him off.

Later, she decided. Maybe she’d talk to him about it in the morning. Right now she had to deal with that room.

She stood before it, unable to twist the knob.

“It’s a room,” she whispered as if not to disturb the secrets inside.

“Just a room,” she repeated.

With a deep breath and a determined twist, she opened the door. It was several moments before she could move or even form a coherent thought.

“Oh, Jeff,” she whispered in the stillness. “You didn’t.”

But he had. He had kept the room untouched for more than three years.

She blinked back the tears that gathered in her eyes, but it was useless. They ran unbidden down her cheeks.

The curtains were drawn, but a faint light from outside lit the room. She walked to the far corner and, without thinking, brushed her fingers across her belly.

The crib before her stood exactly as it had three years ago. Back when everything had seemed so right. So complete.

They had not planned for her to get pregnant. Jeff had been so upset at first. When he’d come around, though, everything had been perfect. Or so she’d thought. Her pregnancy had actually marked the beginning of the end.

But for a brief moment in time, she’d believed she had all she’d ever wanted. Then that moment had passed, and now she was alone.

There was no bedding in the crib, just a bare mattress. Jeff had been convinced the baby would be a girl, however, and had even gone so far as to get his grandmother’s rocking chair with a delicate pink floral print and put it in the nursery. It was still there, just as they’d left it.