Master of the Abyss

whap-“and you’ll be sore.” Whap.

He wasn’t pulling his blows much, and her bottom burned like he’d dumped acid over her skin. Fucking A. Her hands tightened on her ankles as she prepared for the next blow. He’d not get any whimpering or crying from her.

He stepped away. “Kneel.”

Her body had been so tense in preparation for pain that it took a second to move. She slowly lowered herself to her knees. The dirt and pine needles prickled her bare legs. As she sat back and her bottom met her heels, she winced at the bite of pain.

“Apologize.”

“I’m sorry, Jake.” Actually she did feel sorry. She’d gone into this with open eyes and didn’t mean to cheat by disobeying. But the fact that he hadn’t let her and wouldn’t let her satisfied something inside her…as if a hunger had niggled at her without her realizing it. “Really, I am.”

“That will do.” His voice had returned to a rough croon that sent shivers down her spine. Grasping her by the upper arms, he raised her to her feet and pulled her to him.

It felt…strange…to be naked and held by a fully clothed man. Disconcerting. Vulnerable. His big hand pressed her face against his chest, and he rubbed his chin on the top of her head. “You’re forgiven, sugar. I know you’ll do better next time.”

If a man had said that to her somewhere else, she’d have shoved his words back in his face. But here, being naked…aroused…in Jake’s arms, she only wanted, really wanted, to please him, to hear the approval in his voice and see it in his eyes.

“Jake?”

“What’s on your mind?”

“It drives me crazy when my cousins boss me around. Why-how can I like it when you do?”

“Ah. It’s normal to want to make your own decisions in life most of the time. But a submissive finds handing those choices to a dominant-one she trusts-to be freeing, especially in a sexual context. There’s no thinking, no trying to figure out what I want, no ability to hold back or fake your response, or to choose words that are tactful.” She could actually feel the power radiating from him, hear it in his uncompromising voice. “Because I will tell you exactly what I want, and you will have no choice except to respond, and no choice except to give me the utter truth.”

She shivered, and a corner of his firm mouth tipped up.

He stood for a minute, holding her and watching his students. “They’re doing well.” He smiled at her. “Let’s go play.” After picking up his bag, he wrapped an arm around her waist, keeping her close as they walked across the clearing toward his tent. The fabric of his flannel sleeve felt soft against her skin, belying the iron-hard arm beneath.

“Don’t I get to choose?” she asked, eyeing an odd arrangement of straps crisscrossing a log.

“Nope.”

Well, that wasn’t fair. She frowned at him and caught the flash of his grin.

“This place is more private. You’ll like it.”

Private sounded good. Anticipation rippled across her skin as he grabbed a blanket out of his tent and led her to the far side of the clearing, where the trees partially enclosed a small area. The glow from the firelight diminished, but the quarter moon floated high in the western sky, the light angling above the treetops.

He snapped the blanket open and onto the ground, then pointed. “You belong there, little sub.”

Her heart gave a thud. A cool breeze from off the still white-clad mountains brought the scent of pine and wood smoke, and Jake’s wonderful fragrance of soap and man. She dropped to her knees. Was she supposed to kneel or lie down? She worried, then remembered it didn’t matter. Jake would tell her; she didn’t have to think about what to do…at all. The decisions weren’t hers to make. She hadn’t noticed the knot in her stomach until it disappeared.

He stripped off his shirt and knelt beside her on the blanket. In a smooth move, he wrapped his arms around her and tipped them both over, putting himself on top. She grazed her fingertips across the contoured muscles of his shoulders as he leaned down for a long, hungry kiss.

He tasted of the hot chocolate they’d been drinking, and took his time, teasing her lips, plunging deeply inside.

When he pulled back, she sighed. Chocolate. Camping. Sex. What more did a girl need? And it definitely looked like the sex would be great.

Setting his hands on each side of her face, he asked, “What put that smile on your face?”

“Uh.” What the hell. “I was thinking that you taste like chocolate, and there can’t be anything better than sex and chocolate.”

His rumbling laugh made her grin. He brushed his thumb against her lips. “Under all that bluster and men’s clothing, you are such a girl.”

If one of her cousins had said that, she’d have punched him. But from Jake… A warm glow lit inside her.

“But considering the way you dress, I should probably check and make sure.” He nuzzled her temple, her cheek. When he kissed the sensitive area under her ear, she got goose bumps.

Jake grazed his tongue over the hollow of the sprite’s collarbone, tasting her skin, putting a firm hold on his need to taste her more deeply, to move straight to the most delicate, fragrant places. But leisurely exploration had other rewards. A kiss between her breasts, and she arched a little. Sensitive breasts-the memory of her response to his touch had given him several sleepless nights. This night would be sleepless also. He smiled-he would take his time tormenting them both. He brushed his jaw against the gentle curve of her right breast. The day’s growth of his heavy beard scraped, and she inhaled sharply. Slowly he drew his chin across her breast, up and over the puckered peak. Her fingers dug into his arms.

He did the other breast, back and forth, until her fingernails embedded in his skin. Then he closed his lips around one swollen peak.

She gasped.

Damn but she was sweet. Her nipple had a velvety texture, the tiny tip just a little rough when he stroked his tongue over it. He licked the other nipple, then left it wet, chilling in the evening breeze. He sucked the other, hard and strong. Her back arched, and she cried out, a beautiful sound in the quiet night.

He lifted his head to gaze down at her, and her eyes had that dazed look he loved. More. He did the same to her other breast and felt her tremble under him. She could offer him still more. He cupped her small breasts, pressing them upward, then carefully closed his teeth on one tip and heard her suck in a breath and give a husky moan.

He licked the burn from the pink crest. Bit the other gently. Another moan. Welcome to another type of carnal pain, sprite. He grinned as she tried to push him away with one hand, to pull him closer with the other.

Her attempts to move him reminded him of their location. He took her wrists in one hand, raised them above her head, and found the Velcro cuffs that he’d tied to a tree with a few feet of rope. Quick and simple bondage. He had her wrists secured before she caught on and tried to pull her arms down. Her eyes widened, and he could feel her arousal increase.

Sitting back, he slid her down on the blanket until the ropes turned taut, pulling her arms almost straight. He ran his finger under the cuffs to check the fit, and then straddled her curvy thighs and enjoyed the sight before him.

Her skin gleamed white in the moonlight, her jutting nipples still wet from his mouth. Her lips were swollen, and he pleased himself with another kiss.

He knew she’d liked the sensation of being restrained at the lodge, but outdoors bondage added another layer of helplessness. Especially the way he intended to do it. He located the thigh cuff lying