Lies That Sinners Tell (The Klutch Duet 1)

Although I still felt slightly unnerved by his invariably cool presence, there was also something oddly freeing about being around him. Even though he watched me constantly and didn’t talk often, never smiling or laughing at my jokes, he didn’t judge me. And when he wasn’t telling me what to do, I could do whatever I wanted. If he didn’t want me to do something, he’d tell me. I liked being controlled by him, discovering his limits. My limits.

I moved to the other side of the closet. ‘My’ side. For now, at least. Although Jay said there ‘wasn’t much’, there was what had to be at least ten thousand dollars’ worth of clothes and accessories in there. A couple of gowns, cocktail dresses, all made from sleek, silk fabrics. All designer, all in my size. Five pairs of shoes. Jimmy Choo. Louboutin. Manolo Blahnik. Gucci. And one pair of sneakers. My size too. The shoes went with the dresses. Everything was in shades of beige, white and light pink with a pop of light green in one of the cocktail dresses.

Without saying anything, I opened the drawers built into the walls. The first drawer contained lingerie. La Perla. I didn’t need to inspect the bras and panties to know they’d all be in my size.

The next drawer was filled with more casual clothes. Cashmere sweats. Leggings. There was a lot in there, despite what he’d said. And all of it was beautiful. On the surface, at least. Something about it all felt wrong. Made me feel cheap, regardless of the quality and how much it was all worth.

I looked back at Jay. “Are you going to try to control what I wear?” I asked. Despite the fact that everything in this closet totally encompassed my style—simple, feminine, luxurious fabrics, monochromatic—it was odd, to say the least, that it had been hanging here waiting for me.

“When you’re in my bed, yes,” Jay said, stalking toward me. “I like you in silk.” I watched him approach, resisting the urge to retreat, to run from this man.

He pulled at the tie on my robe, revealing my naked body. He pushed it off my body but kept hold of the tie.

“I like you in nothing at all too,” he murmured, one hand circling my neck. “Do you have a problem with this, Stella?”

My eyes were trapped in his gaze, body ensnared by his touch. I didn’t answer. Couldn’t. I wasn’t sure which answer was a lie. I was scared of what the truth was.

“Lie down,” Jay commanded, instead of ordering me to answer his question like I’d thought he would.

He stepped back, letting go of my throat.

I looked at the floor, then at him. Then I did what he said. The carpet was soft, warm, against my back.

“Hands up. Above your head,” Jay ordered, moving to kneel at my head.

Again, I did what he said. The tie from the robe went around my wrists, and then he looped it around something attached to my side of the closet. I couldn’t see what it was from where I laid, but it was far enough away from my body that my arm muscles strained ever so slightly.

Jay was still standing while I was naked on the floor with my arms tied above my head. Vulnerable. At his mercy. He didn’t move downward immediately. Instead, he circled me, as if he was inspecting every inch of my body. I squirmed under his stony-eyed gaze. Despite how soft the carpet was, I was uncomfortable. Almost like he was demeaning me. Nevertheless, the situation was still erotic as all hell.

“You are mine, Stella,” Jay told me as he hovered above me. “You will do as I say. You will submit to me completely. Your pussy is mine. Your ass is mine. Whatever pain you feel will be inflicted by me, and the only time you come is when I allow it.”

My lips quivered, and my cheeks heated as arousal coursed through me.

“Say it, Stella,” he demanded from above me.

“I am yours, Jay,” I rasped.

He waited.

I swallowed, trying to control my breathing.

“I will do as you say,” I whispered. My eyes ran over the length of him, my hands testing my restraints. “I will submit to you completely,” I added. “My pussy is yours,” I continued, the aforementioned area aching from his words, what he’d already done to me, but primed and ready for more. “My ass is yours,” I breathed, my stomach dropping at the thought of Jay exploring that forbidden area. “Whatever pain I feel is going to be inflicted by you, and ...” I trailed off, sucking in an unsteady breath. “The only time I come is when you allow it.”

Hate and need mixed within me as I stared at Jay. I hated him for the control he had over me. For knowing he could stand over me like that and demand whatever he wanted. Make me say things. I was mad at myself for saying them, letting him control me. But I also fucking loved every second of it. In spite of his ever-present aloofness, for some inexplicable reason, I felt safe with him. My chest rose and fell rapidly as my blood got hotter, my need growing more intense.