Chapter Nine
Merrick
Christ.
Jesus fucking Christ.
Sated beyond belief, more grateful than she would ever know, Merrick closed his eyes and tried not to collapse on Tamsyn. The muscles in his arms shivered with fatigue as he held himself aloft, utter bliss coursing through his veins as her pussy continued to flutter around his shaft in post-orgasm aftershocks.
She’d taken all of him, in the end.
The responsible part of his brain told him to move, to begin the process of tending to her and get ahead of the pain before it kicked in, but the sex-addled part urged him to stay right here for the foreseeable future. Right here in all this snug warmth, covering her trembling body with his, because this was home.
Breathing hard, he thanked every god in existence for the miracle of her.
After a few minutes of simply floating on the high with her, he finally found the energy to do something productive. Opening his eyes, he studied her face, relieved to find her features loose and peaceful.
She hadn’t passed out, but she sure as hell hadn’t come back to earth yet.
Kissing her slack mouth gently, he shifted to grasp the condom as he eased out of her carefully. Her quiet moan twisted his heart, digging warning claws into his chest that threatened to tear him to pieces if he hurt her. “Little owl, if you can hear me, open your eyes.”
It took a few seconds, but they cracked open, barely enough for him to see the tawny color. Her lips attempted a wavering smile, which reassured him.
“I know you’re tired, darlin’. Sleep if you want. Gonna take care of you, okay?” Because those kiss-stung lips were so tempting, he kissed her again sweetly. “You were perfect, Tamsyn. Absolutely perfect.”
She whimpered in answer.
With effort, he rolled off her and stripped off the condom, tossing it into the fire. His hands roamed over her, checking for bruises, any signs he’d hurt her. Finding none, he assessed her pussy, growling under his breath.
Swollen, a little bruised, a minimal amount of blood.
Stroking his hand down the inside of her thigh, he pushed to his feet and stalked into the bathroom. The candles were still lit, the water still in the tub from earlier. He pulled the plug and, while he waited for the cold water to drain, hunted through the medicine cabinet for ibuprofen and the tea tree oil gel his previous subs swore by after a round with him.
Filling the drinking glass by the sink with water, he carried it and the ibuprofen back into the bedroom, kneeling beside Tamsyn. She hadn’t moved a muscle, he noted. She remained exactly as he’d left her, her skin glowing in the firelight, and she was… divine.
Setting the glass down, he popped two pills from the packet, then reconsidered and added a third. Sliding his hand under her head, he urged her to sit up. “Tamsyn, I need you to come around a bit. Not for long.”
She groaned quietly and muttered a load of gibberish.
“I understood every single of word of that,” he told her, chuckling under his breath. “Come on, little owl. Give me thirty seconds.”
Her eyes opened again, this time more aware. Slowly, they focused on him, and her smile was stronger. Her voice was little more than a husky whisper when she said, “Merk.”
God, that mispronunciation of his name did weird things to his gut. He’d always been Master Merrick, Merrick, or just plain Sir . The honorifics helped him maintain distance from his subs, kept them from cultivating an intimacy he didn’t want or need.
Merk lashed chains around his heart, anchoring him firmly in the intimate category.
“Back with me, huh? Gonna run a bath, little owl, and get you all cleaned up. Open your mouth for me,” he added, tapping a finger on her bottom lip. Pleasure hummed through him when she obeyed immediately, her eyes trusting even as he slipped the pills on her tongue. “These are just pain meds, darlin’. They’ll help with the discomfort.”
Tamsyn sipped from the glass when he held it to her mouth, swallowing the meds without complaint, then cradled his hand in both of hers while she drained the rest of the water. “Thank you.”
“Anytime. Want some more?” When she hesitated as though reluctant to ask, he ran his thumb over her mouth. “Don’t be afraid to ask for anything, little owl. Especially the essentials. You found your voice; it’s time to use it.”
Unease flickered in her eyes, and he wondered how many times she’d asked for something before the community spirit beat the impulse out of her. Not many, he imagined. It was likely a trait the elders discouraged from an early age to prevent rebellion later on.
“Yes… please.”
“Your wish, darlin’.” Merrick paused. “You okay here for a few minutes?”
Tamsyn nodded, but he wasn’t convinced.
Subdrop was a very real possibility. She’d come several times and flown high; that, combined with the accompanying endorphins and adrenaline—not to mention the joint pain of losing her virginity and taking a man of his size—provided the right criteria for a drop.
Add in the general emotion that came with exposing herself sexually for the first time, Tamsyn was primed for a fall.
“On second thought,” he murmured, brushing his knuckle over her cheek, “why don’t you come keep me company? You can decide whether you want lavender bubbles or raspberry ones while the bath fills up.”
This time, her nod was much more enthusiastic.
“All right, then.” He rose and held his hand out, drawing her gently to her feet.
She swayed slightly, then her legs buckled as she took a step forward. Her low hoooo of pain told him everything he needed to know as he caught her, swinging her into a bridal carry. “Ow.”
“Yeah, you’re gonna be sore for a while, darlin’.”
Tawny eyes weighed him warily. “Every time?”
He headed for the bathroom, trying not to let his amusement show. “Not every time, no. Just the first few, until you adjust to my size.”
“Oh.”
Merrick thought it best not to mention how sore she was going to be when he persuaded her to complete the virginity trifecta and fucked her ass. That conversation could wait awhile.
She seemed to mull that over, only jolting out of her reverie when he set her bare ass on the cold countertop. Her squeal was high, breaking into giggles once the chill abated. “That was mean!”
It was, he admitted, but the counter put her at the perfect height to kiss her. He was absurdly fond of her mouth, maybe moreso now that pretty voice was in play. Particularly when it was plump and swollen from previous kisses. “But you squeal so nicely, little owl. In fact…” His fingers found her tickle spots with ease. “Let me hear it again.”
“No, no.” More giggles burst from her as she squirmed. “Don’t make me pee!”
“Hmmm, watersports. Not really my kink, but I think it’s on your soft limits list.” He nibbled on her shoulder, laughing as her hand flapped against his chest. “Okay, okay. We’ll save tickling for another day.”
Her squeak of alarm appeased his craving.
Giving her one last fleeting kiss, Merrick left her on the counter so he could set the water running. Glancing at her over his shoulder, he asked, “Lavender or raspberry, Tamsyn?”
She lifted a shoulder. “What’s the difference?”
“What’s the—” Stunned, he stared at her. Turning slowly, he pinned her with disbelieving eyes. “You don’t know what either of them smells like?”
“Only a wife gets nice things—if she marries an elder who doesn’t kill her on their wedding night or treat her like a slave. There aren’t many elders like that,” she said with a small shrug as though selling women into brutality and murder wasn’t the mother of all sins. “Mainly, they’re all bad men.”
Anger tightened his jaw, but he kept his tone easy. “Yeah, we’re gonna have a discussion on exactly what’s been going on in that community, darlin’. Not tonight,” he reassured her when all the color drained from her face. “We’re not ruining tonight by bringing them into it. This is your night, and I’ll be damned if they’re gonna fuck it up.”
Sadness filtered into her eyes. “I’m yours.”
Goddamn it, the fuckers were already snaking their way in and they weren’t even here. Snatching up the two bottles of bubble bath, Merrick stomped toward her. He tossed the bottles on the counter, clamping his hands on her face. “It’s official, darlin’. You are mine . Every beautiful inch of you is mine. Trust me, if Jedidiah wants to take what’s mine, he’s gonna have the biggest fucking shock of his life before I end it. Okay?”
“Promise?”
The dejection in her voice undid him. The look in her eyes made him savage.
The kiss was primal, a brutal expression of possession that took his breath away with its power. He imagined her father trying to take her away, putting his flesh-peddling hands on her, and there wasn’t a punishment severe enough for the asshole, in Merrick’s mind.
He kissed her until his lungs ached.
Until her arms clung around his neck.
Until the distress he sensed inside her died and rose again as lust.
“Little owl,” he said quietly when their lips parted, a bit battered and bruised, “I promise they won’t get to you. We might play by the rules while they don’t, but make no mistake, we can play dirtier if they push their luck. You’re mine; I’m yours. Okay?”
Breathless, eyes glazed, Tamsyn nodded slowly.
“Good girl.” Merrick eased back. “Now, we’ve more important things to think about.” He picked up a bottle and uncapped it, waving it under her nose. Maybe not the best topic to distract her with, but it was better than the alternative. “This one’s raspberry.”
Tamsyn eyed the bottle, then him, before she sniffed suspiciously. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise; she took another, longer sniff and her smile bloomed again. But it was the second bottle that lit her eyes with delight. “I like this one.”
He bopped her on the nose. “Lavender it is.”
Bottle in hand, he walked over to the half-full tub and poured a generous stream of purple goo into the flow of water. Checking the temperature, he adjusted the taps so the flow was predominantly cold.
“D-Does it hurt when you… you know?”
“Might have to explain that, darlin’.”
“When you get hard?”
Merrick didn’t need to see her face to know she was glowing brighter than a stop sign; he heard the embarrassment in her voice, but he was pleased with her curiosity. “Sometimes. Depends on how aroused I am, and whether I do anything to relieve myself.”
“Do you… a lot?”
Eyebrow raised high, he turned and stared at her. “Well, for the last month or so, it’s been a regular occurrence. Are you fishing for a compliment, little owl, or angling for another ride?”
She just blinked at him.
“For the record, you pushed my buttons from the moment I set eyes on you. Made my mind up I wasn’t gonna touch you—I don’t make a habit of seducing traumatized, mute virgins, but you worked your way under my skin until all I have to do is look at you and my cock tries to bust free.” God, he loved it when she blushed, all that lush color rising into her cheeks and ears like the inside of a dark red rose. “And yes, you’ll have me again if you want me. Might just have to wait a few days until you heal up.”
Was that a pout pursing those lips?
Glutton for punishment came to mind.
He checked the water again, found it perfect, and switched the taps off.
“I-I don’t feel too bad,” she told him.
He crossed over and picked her up, carrying her over to the tub and setting her feet slowly in the water. When she was standing, he grinned at her. “Hate to tell you this, darlin’, but you haven’t sat down yet. Lower yourself in gently—hang on to me.”
“Are you being mean again?”
“No, but it’s gonna feel like it.” He slipped an arm around her back, holding the other in front of her. He kept her steady as she sank down, stifling a chuckle when her ass broke through the bubbles and her sore pussy met warm water—there was that squeal he adored. “There you go, little owl. Scoot forward.”
Tamsyn just whimpered, cupping herself under the water. “Okay, I’m done.”
Climbing into the tub, Merrick squeezed himself in behind her, groaning as the heat enveloped strained, fatigued muscles. He rather enjoyed the snug press of her ass against his cock, too, but refrained from mentioning it. “It’ll sting like a bitch for a minute. This is what we call aftercare—think of it like extra bonding after sex,” he explained, tugging her back to lean on his chest. “This is my time, where I check you’re okay physically and mentally. I get to spoil you, make sure you feel secure and safe, and generally pamper you.”
She moaned, sinking deeper into the water so her head rested between his pecs. The stiffness from discomfort took mere moments to leak out of her. “We have a bath every time?”
His left hand cupped her cast on the rim of the tub, keeping it dry. The fingers on his other hand dragged up and down her belly beneath the water. “Not necessarily. Maybe we take a bath or a shower. Other times, I’ll wrap you up in a blanket and cuddle you for a while, feeding you water and chocolate. Aftercare comes in many forms; we’ll find what suits you best. Tonight is a special occasion, so you get the whole hog.”
She giggled sleepily. “Here piggy, piggy.”
At last he hadn’t traumatized her so badly she’d lost her sense of humor, he thought. He reached for the cloth hanging over the rim of the tub and the bottle of body wash she liked. “Tell me if you need anything. Talking is how we keep things open and honest, Tamsyn. I wasn’t kidding when I said you’ve found your voice and it’s time to use it.”
“M’kay.”
He was rapidly losing his audience. Chuckling to himself, he poured gel onto the cloth and started lathering her up. Warm water, comfort, and exhaustion were a welcoming committee for sleep. “Darlin’, think you can stay awake until I get you into bed?”
All he got was a soft snuffle in response.
Well hell. Getting them both out of the tub without drowning would be interesting.
For twenty minutes, he meticulously washed her from head to toe, expertly handling her limp body as he soaped and rinsed every inch of skin. He made a low sound of sympathy when he tended between her legs—she was hot and swollen, which didn’t bode well for her come morning.
Tomorrow heralded a new chapter for them both and he, for one, was excited for the first time in a long time about what the future held.
*