The Collar (The Submissive 6)

He took her hand. “I shouldn’t have kept his threats secret. At the time, I thought I was protecting you. I see now it implied you weren’t strong enough to handle it.”

She set her wineglass down and shifted to face him. With her free hand she brushed the hair from his forehead. “In a way, I’m glad it happened like it did. I don’t know if I’d have had the confidence to confront him all those years ago.”

“You had it.”

“You always have thought I was capable of doing more than I thought I could.”

He leaned closer; she still smelled like flowers. “I just see you more clearly than you see yourself.”

“And who do you see now?”

“A beautiful, strong, courageous woman. Who would have made a kick-ass Domme.”

“Oh yeah? And what are you going to do?”

He let go of her hand so he could stroke her cheek. “I’m going to start by kissing her.”

With a patience he didn’t know he possessed, he took her in his arms and kissed her. Though he was tempted to rush things along, he’d been wanting this moment for days and wasn’t going to hurry through it.

She sank into his embrace as though she’d never left, lifting her head and meeting his kiss with one of her own. His lips traced the curve of her jaw, and he allowed his hand to slip under her robe and caress her shoulder.

Moving as slowly as possible, he drew the robe down to expose her collarbone to his lips. He nibbled along, following the path that led to the hollow of her throat, and he smiled in satisfaction. “Your heart is racing.”

“You’re killing me.”

“Good.” He gave her shoulder a small bite, and she rewarded him with a groan.

“Isn’t this when you go get your bags?”

“No,” he said, starting at the other shoulder and following the same path.

“No?”

“No,” he repeated. “If I go get my bags, I’ll be tempted to rush. This way”—he slipped the robe off her shoulders completely—“I’ll be sure to take my time.”

She arched her back and hissed in pleasure when he teased the upper skin of her breasts with his lips. “I’m not sure I follow your logic.”

“That’s okay.” He ran his tongue along the lace edge of her corset. “All it means is I’m going slow tonight. I’m going to bring you to the edge while you’re still in this gorgeous outfit, and then I’m going to have you take it off for me. And when you’re finally naked, I’m going to kiss every inch of your skin. Watch you squirm and listen to you beg. And when I think you’ve had enough, I’m going to slide between those pretty little legs and ease my cock inside until you’re completely filled.” He’d made it back up her body, so he nibbled her earlobe and continued whispering. “I’ll hold still for a bit, let you get used to my dick, because when I pull out and start to fuck you, I’m not holding back. I’m going to pound into you so hard and deep you’ll remember my claiming you for days.”

She bucked against him. “God, Jeff. Fuck me now. Please.”

“But I can’t. You’re nowhere near the edge yet.”

“Oh, trust me.” She shifted her body and tried to pull him on top of her. “I’m on the edge. I’m hiking the edge. I’ve set up a picnic on the edge.”

His fingers skirted the wet fabric of her thong, gently rubbing her clit through the cloth. “Impossible. I’ve barely touched you.”

“You’re that good.” She grinded her hips to get more friction. “Please, oh please.”

“Sounds like I need to slow down even more,” he whispered against her lips.

He’d just given her a soft kiss when a noise from outside caught his attention. His head shot up. “What was that?”

“Didn’t hear anything. Come back.”

“Sounded like something by your door.”

She tried to pull him close again. “Probably the neighbors.”

He heard it again. “I’d better check it out.”

“If you leave me on this couch alone, I’m stripping out of this lingerie without you watching.”

“If you’re naked when I get back, I’m making you watch me jerk off alone,” he warned, rising to his feet.

She huffed. “You’re impossible.”

“No. I just like having my way.”

“Same thing.”

“Say another word and I spank your ass after I check things out.”

Desire and playfulness filled her eyes, and she kept her gaze on him when she replied, “Word.”

He pointed at her and grinned. “That’s ten. Hands and knees on the bed, your ass in the air, waiting for my hand. Then I’m moving you to your back so you can hold your legs open while I give that naughty pussy ten more.”

Her only response was a low moan of eager anticipation.

“Let me take care of this first.” He opened the door, expecting to see darkness, but instead finding Ron.

“What the hell?”

Chapter Fifteen

Present day

From her place on the couch, Dena tried to peer around Jeff’s body. “Is someone out there?”

“Call the police. And you,” he said, reaching for whoever it was outside, “don’t even try to run unless you want me to break every bone in your body.” With a jerk, he pulled the person inside and something fell to the ground. “Not that I’m not sorely tempted to do so anyway.”

Dena gasped as she saw Ron. What was he doing outside her apartment? She looked down at his feet. With a can of red spray paint?

“There’s a red W on your front door,” Jeff said, his voice filled with barely controlled anger. He shook Ron. “You little fucker. I bet you’re the one who’s been harassing her.” He glanced at her. “Dena. Police.”

His voice snapped her into action. Ron? Why?

She reached for the phone and hesitated. “Is that really necessary? The police? Can’t the group handle him?”

Jeff still had Ron by the scruff of the neck. “At least call Daniel,” he said, and then addressed Ron. “The only reason I’m not beating you into a pulp right now is because it’d cause problems for Dena. If you’re smart, you’ll explain what your problem is before I decide I don’t care and beat the shit out of you anyway. What the fuck were you thinking, threatening a woman?”

Ron looked like he was about to throw up. Whatever he’d been expecting, being caught by Jeff wasn’t one of them. “I—I—I,” he stuttered.

Jeff shook him. “Speed it up.”

“You weren’t supposed to be here,” Ron said.

“What?” Dena asked.

“I thought you were going to Jeff’s house.”

“What does that have to do with anything?” Jeff asked.

“She wouldn’t play with me,” he rushed out.

“I wouldn’t what?” she asked Ron, scrolling through her contacts. Her finger trembled as she pulled Daniel up.

“Outside of a session with Ma-Master Covington.” Ron looked from her to Jeff. “She would never do a scene with me. She always turned me down.”

“And you thought harassing her would change her mind?”

“I just wanted to scare her.”

“Fucking asshole,” Jeff said with a growl.

“Hello?” Daniel answered his phone. From the silence in the background, she guessed he and Julie were at dinner with the Wests.

Her voice shook while she explained what had happened, and he let out a string of expletives before saying he and Julie would be right over.