Submitting to the Lawyer (Cowboy Doms 4)

Nan basked in the goosebumps popping up as tingles of pleasure tickled her spasming pussy. Shifting her eyes away from Master Greg’s continued, intent observation of her every expression, she took in the scenes going on near them, enjoying the voyeurism as much as the arousal she’d achieved after the long dry spell. With her concentration centered on the teasing strokes between her buttocks skimming the sensitive rim of her anus and the deeper, faster thrusts teasing the swelling tissues of her vagina and her eyes focused on others, she jolted, unprepared for the slash of sudden pain as a flogger struck her ass for the first time in over a year.

She cried out, struggling with a chaotic mix of emotions as another swat sent blistering streaks of heated pain across her buttocks. Desperate to keep the encroaching fear from reaching the forefront, she tried recalling the times when she’d embraced the prickling hurt, relished every strike of the leather strands and the ecstasy she’d reaped from them. Writhing in her bonds, she fought against the past and everything Master Gerard subjected her to in such a short time, but the darkness encroached anyway, and with it a cold shiver of fearful memories.

“You dare to tell me no with a fucking safeword?” Gerard yanked her off the spanking bench and dragged her toward the basement stairs.

Nan’s irritation changed to instant terror as he ignored her demands to let her go and hauled her down to a damp, dark cellar. Shoving her to the concrete floor, she winced as her hip exploded in pain. But that was nothing compared to the fiery lash streaking across her back as he struck her with a single-tailed whip she never saw him pick up. The shock and pain rendered her speechless long enough for him to strike her again.

“You’ll learn your place soon enough. No cunt refuses me.”

“You fucking bastard!” she screamed as her skin split with the third lash. She tried to stand, but he kicked her back down, robbing her of breath as her rib cracked with the impact of his booted foot. With panic clawing its way into her throat, she crawled naked across the floor, seeking relief from the excruciating agony exploding across her back. The metallic smell of her own blood followed her, as did he, until she reached a corner and curled into a ball of petrified physical and mental torment.

Nan’s harsh breathing turned to whimpering sobs and she slammed her eyes shut against the mortification of failure, never seeing the third man rushing to her side or feeling his soothing hands reaching for her. But it was Master Dan’s insistent, deep voice that penetrated the haze of terror gripping her, his tall, hard body she fell against as her hands were freed. Shaking, her body broken out in a cold sweat, she ignored the worried questions firing from Greg and Devin and clung to the steady beat of Master Dan’s heart under her ear, his voice whispering in her ear.

Dan tried to control his raging emotions as he held onto Nan’s quivering body. The displeasure he’d felt upon coming up to the loft and spotting her with his two friends had surprised him. Both Greg and Devin held reputations as excellent Doms, and he would trust any sub with them, so his quick reaction to seeing their hands all over her was odd and would need further examining later. As he took up his responsibility as monitor and settled against the back wall to keep an eye on things, he couldn’t help sliding his gaze back over to the threesome every few minutes, and what he kept seeing sent up a red flag of warning and unease.

He knew from personal experience how much his favorite sub enjoyed sexual submission, and how a long session over his lap or with his flogger would send her into orgasmic orbit. So, why was she tensing when Devin spanked her ass, and why did her jaw tighten and her face turn sheet-white when he switched to the flogger? Other than the gyrations of her body signaling her acceptance and growing arousal from their attentions, he saw none of her familiar signs of an impending orgasm. Even those telltale body movements ceased after just a few short moments, fear and gut-wrenching cries taking their place.

“Breathe, hon. I’ve got you,” he murmured in her ear, the seed of suspicion her odd behavior since returning had planted blossomed into a full bloom of certainty as he held her. Something happened that had stolen her confidence and pleasure in the lifestyle she loved, the possibilities of what stirring his anger into a feverish pitch.

“Fuck, Dan, what the hell is going on?” Devin ground out, his look as confused, concerned and pissed off as Greg’s. “She never spoke her safeword, or even red. We didn’t catch on until you did.”

“I don’t know but intend to find out.” Nan stiffened, and he guessed she was coherent enough to catch what they were saying.

Before he could ease her back, she pushed against him and demanded in a low voice, “Let me go.”

He dropped his arms, not wanting to traumatize her further. As she stepped back and averted her ravaged face, his chest tightened and his abdomen cramped from the surge of frustration and fury over what might have befallen her in New Orleans.

“Nan…”

She held up a hand that still shook and turned to face Devin and Greg. “I apologize, Sirs. I don’t know what came over me. I’m tired, but that’s no excuse. Maybe I’m just not ready to jump back into things after so long away.”

Since she refused direct eye contact with them and kept her back to Dan, she didn’t see the disbelief on all three of their faces. Dan clenched his hands into fists to keep from spinning her around and demanding the truth. Going all caveman on her sure as hell wasn’t the way to handle this woman, or the situation he never dreamed she would end up in.

As Greg handed her her discarded panties, Dan said, “In that case, I’ll walk you out.” She whipped around, gripping the silky thong, her gold eyes sparking with irritation. At least the glazed look of terror had cleared. Before she could turn him down, he insisted, not hesitating to exert his control over this matter. “Yes, I will, and you’ll either comply or I’ll file a complaint and request the suspension of your club privileges.” He was counting on the desire he’d seen in her actions and on her face for getting back what she’d apparently lost while away to gain her compliance.

“Fine,” she bit out, not bothering to hide her displeasure with his threat. Stepping into the thong, she yanked it up with no sign of embarrassment before heading toward the stairs.

“You find out anything, we’d appreciate you filling us in,” Greg said as Dan started after Nan.

Lifting his hand in acknowledgement, he nodded, saying, “Will do,” and went after his girl. He caught up with her at the top of the stairs and snatched her hand. “Damn it, Nan. I’m just trying to help.” Stepping in front of her, he trotted down the stairs, tugging her behind him.

“I don’t need your help, or anyone else’s,” she hissed.

“You couldn’t prove that ten minutes ago,” Dan shot back, ignoring the curious looks aimed their way as

he strode toward the foyer, keeping a tight grip on her hand, her damp palm and quivering fingers proof she remained shaken. He was forced to release her so she could get her shoes and cover, but instead of arguing further, she remained mulishly silent.

He followed her out to her car but as she reached for the handle, he spun her to face him with a gentle grip on her shoulders. “Damn it, Nan, what the fuck happened to you?” he snapped with concerned exasperation.

Her face tightened with mortified frustration before she returned in an angry whisper, “What happened was I trusted the wrong person, was dumb enough to believe the wrong Dom. It was my mistake, and I’m working through it, and that’s all you need to know. Now, back off.”

Dan dropped his hands and stepped back far enough to reach around her and open the door. She slid behind the wheel and reached for the handle, but he kept her from closing it as he leaned down and said, “You’re wrong. That’s not all I need to know and you’re not working through it, but around it. We’ll talk more about this later, when we’ve both cooled down. Try to get some rest.”

Nan gripped the steering wheel and clenched her teeth as she drove back to her apartment with unfulfilled arousal warring with a past that kept playing head games with her. By the time she entered her well-lit apartment, she didn’t know who she was more upset and angry with—Gerard for not being the strict but caring Dom she’d been seeking, herself for her failure to get over and move on from what he’d put her through, or Dan, who insisted she let him past her guard. Tossing her purse onto the dainty table just inside the door, she stomped her foot and shook her head in a fit of exasperation. Damn it, she knew it wasn’t fair to blame Dan for being not only a good Dom, but a caring friend.

She kicked off her sandals and padded toward her bedroom, stripping the slip of a dress off over her head as she recalled the clutch around her heart when his rough voice penetrated her fear and she knew he would catch her as her hands were released. Of all the men she’d submitted to, he was the only one she’d ever given her complete trust and submission to. But considering her lapse tonight, could she even count on old feelings, confidences and friends to get her over this hurdle when the arousing attentions of two men had failed?

Falling into bed, she hugged her largest stuffed panda to her, a gift from Jay, despairing of ever freeing herself of Gerard’s brutality.