The Collar (The Submissive 6)

to stroke. Where to bite. The places she loved his fingers. And the parts that went wild for his tongue.

Gradually, he felt the tension leave her body. Just as gradually, her arousal grew and her breathy sighs became moans of pleasure. He dropped his head and suckled a nipple, remembering her taste.

She clutched his hair in her hands. “Harder. Fuck, Jeff. So hard.”

He obliged, giving her exactly what she asked for. When she writhed against him, he slipped a hand between them and teased her wet entrance. “I’m going to take you now, Angel. I’m going to sink inside you so deep, I may never leave.”

She didn’t say anything, but he saw the need in her eyes, the longing and the desire. Even more, he saw want and acceptance. He nudged her knees farther apart and settled himself between them.

Her eyes remained on his as he gently pushed inside her. It took most of his self-control not to thrust in completely, all at once, but to take his time and to ensure they each felt every movement of his penetration.

“Oh my God, yes,” she said as he went deeper and deeper.

“Never again,” he whispered as he moved within her. “You’ll never be without me again.”

He kept his thrusts slow and purposeful, watching as her pleasure grew while keeping his own need in check. Even when he finally started moving faster, he couldn’t keep his eyes off her. She raked her nails down his back, and he groaned in his own pleasure.

It had been too long since he’d had her, and neither one of them was going to be able to delay their release. As he drove them both toward their climax, he knew no other woman would ever satisfy him. Just her.

His Angel.

He thrust harder and faster, dropping a hand between them to tease her in a way he knew would have her coming within seconds. She closed her eyes, and with the next pass of his hips, she gasped and stiffened as her climax rippled through her.

Jeff wasn’t far behind, his own release following on the heels of hers. He was panting when it was over, and he wasn’t sure he’d ever come so hard.

Afterward, she was soft and pliable in his arms. She nuzzled his chest with her head, and he wrapped his arms around her, more content than he’d been in years. He kissed her forehead and was interrupted by the phone.

“Damn it,” he mumbled, and whipped the handset off his nightstand. “What?” he nearly shouted.

“Mr. Jeff Parks, please.”

“You’ve got him. Make it fast.”

“Mr. Parks, this is Amy, the nurse caring for your father. I know you’re planning to come here, but I want you to know you should probably come as quickly as possible. He doesn’t have much longer.”

Chapter Eleven

Present day

The afternoon of the following day, everyone met at Daniel’s house for lunch. Nathaniel and Abby had planned to stay a few more days, but when they learned about Jeff’s father, they decided to head back to New York earlier. Jeff was surprised to see Sasha there, but Daniel caught his quizzical look and took him aside to explain after everyone had finished eating and they stood around chatting.

“Julie was shopping with Sasha this afternoon when I called her. I assumed she wanted to say good-bye to Dena, but Julie told me she thought Sasha was kicking around the idea of rejoining the group.”

“The way she ran out of the last meeting she attended, we need to think that one through.”

“Agreed,” Daniel said. “But I thought it’d be a good idea for her to be here for something not group related.”

It had been a casual lunch, just make-your-own sandwiches. They ate sitting in the kitchen, and Jeff thought Daniel’s idea to slowly integrate Sasha back into the group was a good one. But at the moment he wasn’t able to think about Sasha. He looked to his right to where Nathaniel was talking to Abby and met the Dominant’s eyes.

“When will you be leaving for New York?” he asked.

“I thought we’d head out later this evening,” Nathaniel said. “What time’s your flight?”

“Later this evening.”

“You know, by moving Dena to New York, you’re really going to mess with her stalker. I think we’ll either see an increase in activity or nothing at all while he plans what to do next.”

“If he makes any sort of move, I want you to call me. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is.”

Nathaniel nodded. “Will do. Any luck finding out who it is?”

“No, but I have a pretty good idea of who it isn’t.”

“That’s a start.”

“I had hoped to know a lot more by this time.”

“Going to dig into people who have it out for the senator?” Daniel asked.

“Yes,” Jeff confirmed. “And it’s a damn long list.”

“Come on, now. He’s not all that bad,” Dena said with a roll of her eyes, and Jeff again felt a momentary sense of guilt for not telling her about the details of his meeting with her father all those years ago.

“He’s not all that good, either,” he said.

She opened her mouth to protest, but just then someone new came into the room. “I parked at the guesthouse since your driveway’s already overflowing with cars.”

Everyone’s head spun to the doorway at the sound of the smooth British accent. Daniel’s close friend Cole Johnson stood with a backpack slung over one shoulder. He was smiling, but the smile quickly faded as he glanced around the room.

“Have I interrupted something? I apologize,” he said.

Daniel stood and walked over to Cole. “I didn’t expect you until next week.” He punched his arm. “Don’t you ever call?”

“I rang twice on the way here, but you didn’t pick up. I rang the doorbell, but no one answered. It was unlocked, so here I am.” He shrugged. “You always tell me to make myself at home.”

Cole was an award-winning journalist and had been on assignment in India for the past several months.

“You’re always welcome,” Daniel assured him. “Let me take your bag. I think you know everyone.”

Cole passed him the bag and walked over to Julie. “Julie.” He took her hands and kissed her cheek. “So good to see you again. You’ve made Daniel very happy.”

Julie stood up straighter and squared her shoulders. “Thank you, Sir. The feeling’s mutual.”

“Cole is fine when we’re not with the group.” He winked at her. “I’m only an arse in the playroom.”

Daniel snorted. “That’s debatable.”

Cole ignored him and moved to Sasha. He didn’t touch her, but simply stood before her with a kind smile. “Hi there, Sasha. Good to see you again. How are you?”

Jeff was glad Cole remembered Sasha’s trauma and brought up the incident indirectly. But then again, it had been Cole who’d held her after she’d nearly fallen.

At Cole’s greeting, Sasha stood. “I’m afraid I don’t remember much of our first meeting, but I’m doing well.” She held out her hand. “Sasha Blake. I understand I owe you thanks for your help a few months ago.”

Cole shook her hand. “Cole Johnson. And no thanks required. I’m glad I could assist.”

“The guesthouse is ready,” Daniel said. “I had it prepared for you after the last play party.”

“Excellent,” Cole said. “So tell me what I walked in on today.”

Daniel explained what had happened to Dena and where she was going.

“If you don’t want to go to New York,” he said when Daniel finished, “you’re more than welcome to stay at the guesthouse with me. Or I could find something else and you could stay by yourself.”

A jealousy like he’d never experienced rushed through Jeff, catching him off guard. “Frankly, I think it’s better that she go out of town. That way we throw him off her trail, at least for a while.”