Tamed (Club Sin 5)

“What? No! It’s because of—”

She raised her hand and cut him off. “What has this been, Tobias, this thing between us? Pity?”

“Ruthie, I—”

Her heart broke apart—it was there in his voice. “It is.” Her words echoed in her mind and ripped into her soul. She grabbed her coat, shrugged it on and b

elted it. Tears overflowed; she couldn’t stop them. “I gave you my heart and came here tonight to give you my dreams.”

“Ruthie, goddamn it—that’s not what this is! I’m not who you think I am,” he bit out, and his deep baritone, instead of soothing, grated on her nerves.

“You’re right, Tobias. I thought you were mine. I thought I could be yours. But even a blind woman can see that’s just not the case,” she whispered.

It was quiet then, nothing between them but a breaking heart—hers—and a stubborn refusal to see past insecurities—his.

“Who are you, Tobias, that you will not share yourself with me?” she asked, wanting an answer but dreading it at the same time.

Ruthie knew who he was, but she had only bits and pieces of his background. His sister, Daly, was her best friend, so of course Ruthie knew about their dad and how they’d grown up under his oppressive thumb. Tobias had approached her a year ago, shortly after Daly had begun dating Ruthie’s brother, Jeremiah. Those two had become inseparable, and Ruthie was genuinely happy for the brother who’d given up so much to raise her. But she’d secretly yearned for the same thing—that bond with another person that allowed you to feel deeper than anything you’d ever known.

Tobias had asked her to go see a movie. She’d laughed in his face, because hello? She was blind. But after apologies and more laughter on both their parts, she’d given in and gone. He’d held her hand, hugged her close, and then he’d described the characters in the movie so she could “see” them in her mind. He’d licked the shell of her ear as he’d whispered to her, making an action-packed movie much more erotic than the directors probably intended. Tobias had played with her hair and driven her crazy with soft touches along her shoulders and neck.

Then he’d taken her home, kissed her good night—her first kiss—and left after a promise to be back the next night for more.

More. Something he wanted now and wasn’t going to let her give him.

“You want to know who I am, Ruthie?” His voice had lowered, the baritone a darker, even richer texture that had goose bumps rising on her body.

Ruthie stepped back. Did she?

Tobias stepped forward. She cocked her head, listening. He gave her silence for long moments.

“Then I’ll show you.” It was a dark promise, and Ruthie had no idea what to expect. “You’ll need a word, Ruthie. A single word that when spoken will tell me you’re ready to stop or we’ve gone too far.”

“Red,” she answered quickly.

He laughed, but there was no mirth. “You have been talking with Candace.” He breathed in deep. “There are rules, Ruthie. I control your pleasure. I control you. You do nothing unless you’ve been given permission by me. If you have questions, ask. You address me as Sir. As in any relationship, there is a natural give and take. But don’t forget who has the power here. And your word, don’t forget your safe word—say it when you want me to stop.”

“I won’t,” she promised.

“I guarantee you will,” he returned. “There are limits to any play, Ruthie. How far you will go, how far you’ll let me take you. I know Candace told you about limits. Do you have any hard limits?”

“No breath play, no scat play or urination, no cutting,” she answered.

“That’s all? Everything else is open?”

“Yes.”

He laughed again; this time it stroked along her nerve endings, centering in her pussy. “I need your permission.”

Ruthie had no idea what he was asking for.

He sighed. “Tell me what you’ll give me, Ruthie.”

Oh, Tobias, she thought. With that single statement he’d told her everything. She took a deep, cleansing breath. She was so close.

Before she could speak, he said, “Remember, this is a contract, binding us in play.”

“I will give you more of me than I’ve ever given anyone. I will give you all of me and take all of you in return…Sir.”