Chapter 2
Chapter Two
E lias looked into Jayne’s light-blue eyes and his heart stuttered. He’d been a fool to think he could fight his attraction to this beauty forever. He’d noticed her the very first night he’d ventured into Books and Brew nearly three years earlier. In fact, she was the main reason he had returned. While the bar-slash-bookstore was a charming place to wile away a few hours, it was the shy co-owner who captured his interest and kept him coming back.
There had been no denying Jayne was a submissive. He’d seen it in the demure way she lowered her eyes whenever he spoke. He couldn’t help but acknowledge how she often deferred to him in ways so small, no one but a true Dom would notice.
But notice he had.
Unfortunately, another hard truth had become obvious as he spent more time getting to know her. She was a serious danger to his well-ordered life. At forty-three, it was safe to say he was set in his ways. He enjoyed his solitude, the masculine comforts of his home, his freedom.
He wasn’t a stranger to affairs. He was a regular at a local sex club. He’d met and taken many subs there, spending hour after hour in sated bliss as he pushed them to their limits and beyond. And sometimes the playing would venture away from the club and into his home.
But he’d always drawn the line in the sand early, explaining that while he would share his body and his time, he wouldn’t offer his heart in any sort of lasting commitment. There had been plenty of women who willingly agreed to a no-strings- attached relationship, content to offer their bodies if not their hearts. He was a single man who’d managed to have his cake and eat it too.
Then he met Jayne. A few nights in her presence confirmed she had the ability to shake his solid foundation and crumble his comfortable world to dust, despite the fact she was his polar opposite—a starry-eyed romantic. Once that realization hit, he’d vowed to keep his distance, swearing off his Books and Brew visits lest he give in to temptation.
The decision to stay away had fallen apart within days, and soon Elias found himself trapped in a weird version of self-flagellation as he endured years of look, but don’t touch . It was a torturous routine of his own making, and one he couldn’t find the strength to escape. So he’d limited his trips to Books and Brew to Thursday and Saturday nights, feeling ridiculously stoic about his ability to control his attraction.
He did a mental eye roll at that thought. He was powerless when it came to Jayne. He’d actually chosen to visit the bar on Thursday nights because it was when Jayne held her Romantic Hearts book club meeting. At first, he’d been equal parts amused and disgusted by her doe-eyed views of romance and happily ever after. He thought her rose-colored comments would help him stay away.
Instead, as more time passed, he felt his jaded opinions wavering.
He had made excuse after excuse, thinking it would keep him safe from her, from this inevitability. He’d been wrong.
Jayne’s gaze held his, her eyes filled with fear and hope. He reached for her hands, lifting them to his lips. He pressed soft kisses to her knuckles, and her face softened as a bashful smile appeared.
“You take my breath away.”
She blinked twice and he noticed the sheen of tears in her eyes. When was the last time a man had complimented her? She deserved to be told how special she was every day.
An ache bloomed in his chest. Jayne was staring at him as if he was the dashing hero in one of her books—a pirate, a duke and a sheik all rolled into one. He wanted to be that man. If only he could break through her reticence. Something was clearly holding her back.
While she’d consented to only five nights, he knew that would never be enough time. He wanted to expose her to all the magnificence lingering just beneath the surface that she seemed oblivious to.
He released her hands, cupping her face and tipping it up to his. Her tongue darted out quickly as she wetted her lips. He watched the motion, spellbound. He seldom kissed women. In fact, he couldn’t recall the last time he’d really kissed someone. When had he last offered one of his lovers a long, deep, openmouthed kiss?
Jayne’s lush pink lips beckoned. He bent forward.
The moment their mouths connected, Elias gave up the fight.
He could always tighten the reins again tomorrow. Retreat. Regroup. Reevaluate how to proceed. For now, he’d sell his soul to the devil to remain here. Just like this. With her.
Jayne whimpered softly as he deepened the embrace. He twisted her head slightly so he could move closer. His tongue dipped inside, tasting the sweetness of the Kahlua on her breath. He left no part of her mouth unexplored. His fingers tangled in her soft honey-blonde hair. She was so much tinier than him, the top of her head barely reaching his shoulder.
As they continued to kiss, he lifted her, carrying her to a barstool. He placed her gently on the cool leather, the tall stool lifting her higher, making it easier for him to reach her lips.
He briefly broke their connection. “Open your legs.”
Jayne didn’t hesitate this time, and he rewarded her obedience, pulling her face back to his for another hot, wet kiss. He stepped closer, restraining a groan when his covered cock brushed against her slit. It would be too easy to release his zipper, free his dick and push into her. He’d never wanted to fuck a woman more.
He sucked in a harsh breath. He needed to get control of himself. This wasn’t how he’d envisioned tonight would go. When he’d seen the sadness on her face as she’d wandered behind the bar earlier, he’d known all bets were off. He’d breached the distance, willing to do anything to wipe the loneliness from her eyes.
Elias had intended to only offer a small sample of the chemistry that raged between them. In his mind, as he watched her work, he had planned a brief sexual experiment where he introduced her to the submissive lingering beneath the surface, while maintaining control of his own desires.
So much for that. Now he was not only in danger of yanking off his pants and taking her with the finesse of a teenage boy with his first girlfriend, he was thinking about forever.
Time to get a grip.
He stepped away. Jayne’s fingers tightened against his forearms in protest. He gently shook them off. “No, Jayne. We need to take a minute.”
She frowned. “For what?”
“I need to explain to you how this evening’s going to proceed.”
She pressed her legs together, folding her hands neatly in her lap, and waited patiently. How had he resisted this—her—for so long?
“I’m not an easy man to be with. I’ll make demands. Hard ones. And I’ll expect you to obey me.”
She nodded, her face beautifully earnest and willing. “I understand that.”
No. She didn’t. “I told you to open your legs.”
Jayne didn’t move as quickly this time. His harsh tone left her uncertain. She was fighting her own nature. He read it in her face, in the stiffness of her body. Part of her longed to obey, but her beautiful, intelligent, politically correct mind told her it was wrong.
Her hesitation was all he needed. He’d prove to her this wasn’t wrong. It was powerful, overwhelming. And completely, indescribably right.
“Time’s up. Stand and bend over that stool. Place your forearms on the seat.”
Again, Jayne hesitated.
He gripped her upper arm firmly, forcing her into the position, letting her feel his undeniable strength. Then he waited, counted the seconds as he anticipated her retreat, listened for her to use her safe word.
She didn’t attempt to leave. Instead, she lowered her upper body until it pressed against the leather, lifting her ass even more.
God. The air seeped from his lungs. Her unequivocal compliance was the last bit of proof he needed. She was splendid. And she would belong to him.
“Rise up on your toes and hold that position.”
Once more, she responded without ambivalence.
His hand moved, seemingly of its own accord, to caress the soft, pale skin of her ass. She lowered her head as he stroked her gently. He knew if he dipped his finger into her cunt, he’d find her wet. Ready.
Elias drew in a deep breath to steady himself. Then he struck. Slapped the flat of his palm against Jayne’s ass. She jerked but made no sound.
He repeated the motion, spanking her three, four times more. The white flesh reddened. Jayne remained rooted to the spot.
But she groaned, the sound, one of undeniable pleasure.
He continued to smack her, placing blows of varying strength along her ass and upper thighs. Rather than pull away, Jayne shoved closer, inviting him to persist, silently demanding he give her more. It was heady, overwhelming. Heaven.
“God, Elias.”
“Jayne.” It was all he could say as he pressed her legs farther apart, nudging her ankles with his shoe. He drove into her wet pussy with two fingers. She was dripping, hot, ready. He added a third and shoved in faster as she thrust against him, begging for more.
Her climax came quick and hard, shaking her entire body. Too many realizations crashed around him.
Jayne not only responded to domination, but to pain as well.
“Jayne,” he repeated, her name grounding him, bringing him peace.
“So good.” Her voice was more breath than sound.
He closed his eyes, letting the words sink in. They filled him with confidence. He would succeed. He would win her heart. Failure was no longer an option.
When his eyelids lifted, he felt more alive than he had in years. He considered that. He’d always insisted he was happy with his life, his career, his casual relationships. If anyone had asked him last month what he’d seek to change if he could, he honestly would have said nothing. How had he managed to live without her for so long?
Now he understood why he’d been drawn to Jayne all this time. Elias had recognized the same loneliness in her that was buried deep within his own soul.
Yes. Jayne was a threat to his well-ordered life. She would disrupt everything.
Thank God.
He reached for her elbow and used it to pull her upright. The image of her rosy ass sparked his arousal. He wasn’t sure what it said about him, this desire to mark a woman as his own, but it had always been there, lurking in the darker regions of his psyche.
He kept a firm hand on Jayne’s arm as she struggled to stand on wobbly legs. He wasn’t the only person strongly affected by what was happening here. Everything changed tonight because he simply couldn’t hold back any longer.
He kissed her.
“You won’t scare me away. I’m sincere in my desire to learn. But you also won’t convince me to ask for more. I’m sorry. I can’t treat this as anything more than a fantasy, a game.”
Her words were spoken softly but they were filled with certainty, an assurance she didn’t usually show.
He frowned. Something powerful was standing in his way. At some point, he’d have to delve into his past conversations with Jayne to try to figure out what it was.
But not now. As he’d told Jayne, it wasn’t time to think. All he wanted to do right now was feel. “I didn’t give you permission to come.”
An adorable crinkle appeared between her eyes, but he kept his features schooled, impassive.
“I didn’t know?—”
“I’m aware of that,” he said, interrupting her. “But now you are. So we’re going to test your control in that area.”
“We are?”
He took her hand and led her behind the bar. “You’re too hot, Jayne. I think perhaps you should take some time to cool off.”
Reaching into the cooler, he pulled out a piece of ice. “Stand with your legs apart and latch your fingers behind your head.”
She assumed the position eagerly. With her arms raised, her breasts stood higher. Elias couldn’t resist them any longer. Raising the ice, he rubbed it along one tight nipple.
Jayne gasped. “It’s cold.”
He grinned. “Ice generally is.”
She scowled good-naturedly at his jest until he pressed the ice against her other nipple. The turgid nub grew harder and Jayne’s breathing became labored. Excited.
He countered the chill, sucking her nipple into his mouth, letting the wet heat soothe her.
Jayne’s hands landed on his shoulders. He pulled away. “Hands behind your head. You’re not to break position.”
She hastily raised her arms once more, and Elias returned to her breasts, savoring the small whimpers that escaped as he took turns teasing her with the cold ice and his hot mouth. She arched her back, and her skin turned pink and dewy with her arousal.
“Please,” she murmured.
He wondered if she knew what she was asking for. Her beautiful blue eyes were dazed, lost in the moment.
Until he dragged the ice along her stomach, drifting lower. Her attention captured, she watched intently as he drew the rapidly melting cube through the light smattering of hair at her pussy.
“Oh God,” she gasped when he pressed it against her clit. She tried to jerk away, but he held her in place, his free hand gripping her ass firmly. “So cold.”
He didn’t move the ice, didn’t allow her to pull back.
“Elias, please,” she repeated.
“Please what, Jayne?”
Her eyes, which had drifted closed, reopened, and she blinked rapidly. “I want you.”
“I want you too, but not tonight. Soon.”
She didn’t like his answer. “Now.”
He tightened his grip on her sore ass as a warning. In this realm, he would direct their course. She winced at the added pressure, but her eyes betrayed a sort of bliss as well.
Releasing her briefly, he reached into the cooler and retrieved anther chunk of ice. Jayne’s chest rose, expecting him to return to her breasts. This time he passed them, focusing his attention on her ass. She sighed with relief as he rubbed the cool moisture over her sore bottom.
She leaned forward, her breasts pressing against his chest, sinking into his embrace as he wrapped his arms more tightly around her. When he felt her relax under his soothing massage, he decided to up the ante.
He ran the ice through her ass cheeks, not stopping until he found her anus. She went still as he pressed the melting piece inside.
“God,” she moaned. He pressed the fleshy mounds of her ass together, making certain to keep the ice in place. She shivered in his arms but made no protest.
He held her for several moments, then decided it was time to crank up the heat again. Releasing her ass, he ran his finger around the rim of her anus. She stiffened, confirming his suspicions. He hadn’t been wrong to call her an innocent.
In the past, such knowledge about a prospective lover would have had him running for the hills. He only took well-trained subs, members of the club, women familiar with the lifestyle. He’d never toyed with anyone untutored, inexperienced.
However, Jayne’s natural, untouched enthusiasm added to the attraction, her allure. There was so much he wanted to teach her.
But some of those lessons would have to wait until the next time. He didn’t have lubrication to ease his path inside her ass, to make the new experience anything other than painful, so instead he focused on her pussy. Dragging his fingers along her wet slit, he briefly toyed with her clit before pushing two fingers inside her cunt. She gasped as her body responded. The game with the ice had inched her closer to the precipice. It would take very little to shove her over the edge.
And push her he would.
With one hand on her ass, he worked three fingers inside her tight opening, moving slowly at first before building up his speed, his depth.
Jayne’s hips thrust against his hand, urging him on, silently begging for relief.
Once more he heard her quiet pleas. He wasn’t going to give her the permission she was seeking. Not yet. Tonight’s lesson wasn’t merely about obedience. It was about control.
His.
And hers.
“Elias.” Her hands fell to his shoulders, gripping tightly. He didn’t chastise her for breaking position without permission. She was too far gone, too close. He wanted to feel her pulsing release on his fingers once more.
She didn’t disappoint. Her fingers clutched him tightly as her pussy clenched, signaling her climax. He didn’t halt his actions, didn’t slow down or offer her surcease. One orgasm gave way to another, and still he drove his fingers deep, hard.
Jayne was gasping for air, whimpering, crying, but he wasn’t finished making his point. Her body belonged to him. There was nothing he wouldn’t—couldn’t—take from her.
Her strength gave out when he pressed against her clit, and a third climax struck. Her legs buckled, but Elias was there to catch her, to hold her up.
She clung to him as tears streamed down her flushed cheeks. He’d pushed her hard, yet she hadn’t attempted to retreat. And her safe word remained unspoken.
Slowly she recovered and found her feet again. Elias waited for the moment when her sated delight gave way to clarity.
Her gaze found his. “You didn’t give me permission.”
“You’re right. I didn’t. Kneel.”
Jayne dropped to her knees, a willing supplicant. If it had been any other woman, punishment would have followed. But with Jayne, there was only one thing he wanted from her.
“Unzip my pants.”
Jayne hastily did his bidding. When she reached to free his cock, he gripped her wrist firmly to stop her.
“Only do what I tell you, Jayne. I know tonight is a learning experience for you, but you need to follow my instructions to the letter. Did I tell you to touch me?”
She shook her head. “No, but I thought?—”
“I’m in awe of your clever mind. I love the way your brain works, how intelligent you are. But close it down for a little while and let me take care of this. Of you.”
She nodded slowly. “I’d like that. A lot.”
He ran his hand along her cheek fondly. He’d never met anyone who worked harder than Jayne. She was tireless as she pursued her career goals, working long hours to make Books and Brew successful. She organized and ran three different book groups, ordered everything for the bookstore, while keeping the shelves stocked with the latest releases and customers’ requests. In addition, she pitched in as a waitress when needed. He wondered when she’d last taken a day off.
As for her personal life, she was constantly checking in on and helping her aging parents and a grandmother who was pushing ninety. She never took time for herself, and he suspected that was at the root of her recent sadness.
She’d burned the candle at both ends for so long, she’d finally run out of wax. He wanted to be the one to help her recharge the batteries, to find respite. There was so much he wanted to give her.
He slowly pulled out his cock, fighting to restrain his own groan of relief. It had been rock-hard since she’d pulled down the shades and he’d turned off the lights. It rode high and hard against his stomach.
“I want you to take me in your mouth.”
She licked her lips as he pushed the head of his cock closer. Jayne welcomed him inside eagerly. She dragged her tongue shyly along the underside. He closed his eyes and drank in a deep gulp of air. Her innocent exploration was going to test his restraint.
“Wrap your hand around the base.”
Again, she complied.
“Tighten your grip. Let me feel how much you want me.”
She followed his lead as he showed her what he liked.
Cupping her cheeks, he tilted her head until her eyes met his. “I’m going to fuck your mouth, Jayne. I want you to swallow the head. Take me in as far as you can.”
Her eyes closed in pure delight as she moved nearer. Using his hands on her head, he directed the pace, letting her become accustomed to his girth.
When the head of his dick brushed the back of her throat, he pressed on and triggered her gag reflex. He retreated an inch, then waited. Patience would win this race. Not force.
He pushed in again. Once more, her throat rejected the invasion. Three more times he forged on, giving her softly spoken instructions mingled with words of praise for her efforts.
On the fifth pass, she swallowed him, his cock going so deep into her mouth he saw stars. His fingers tightened in her hair as he struggled for control. The past hour had tempted him in ways he had never experienced.
Jayne took to his lessons like a fish to water, driving him closer to the brink with each deep suck. She teased him with her tongue, taunted him with her teeth.
There was only one way this would end.
“Jayne. I’m going to come in your mouth. Swallow, Blue Eyes. Drink it all down.”
She hummed her assent, the vibrations pounding the last nail in his coffin. He gave in to the inevitable as his balls filled and jets of ejaculation coated the back of her throat. She swallowed every drop.
Elias stood still for several long moments as he struggled to recover. How long had it been since a woman had gotten under his skin this way?
Unfortunately, he knew the answer.
Never.
Jayne suckled on his softening cock so sweetly, it drove all his thoughts away. For the first time in a lifetime, the reins slipped from his grip as he reveled in the moment, in the gift of this woman.
Then he slowly pulled away. Picking Jayne up from the floor, he returned to his usual chair in the corner and sat with her on his lap. She curled closer, cuddling him as she lay naked, beautifully tousled and sleepy-eyed.
He hadn’t shed a single piece of clothing, while his beautiful submissive had bared everything.
“Elias,” she whispered. “Thank you.”
He swallowed hard against the lump that formed in his throat, the power of the moment too strong. “Stand up, love. Let’s get you dressed.”
They worked together in silence, returning her clothes to rights. Then he helped her into her coat, took her hand and led her out into the chilly night air.
The snow had slowed until only the lightest smattering of flurries fell. The world had been painted clean, a white canvas waiting to be filled with color. With life. With love. “I’ll walk you home.”
He sensed she wanted to refuse, but she didn’t. Instead, she allowed him to tighten his grip and accompany her to her place. He didn’t release her hand until they arrived at the door to her second-floor apartment.
“I’ll see you on Saturday?” she asked.
“Of course.”
Jayne glanced over her shoulder at her dark apartment. “You sure you don’t want to come in?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight. Wear something pretty on Saturday. A skirt. No panties.”
Jayne’s delicate pale complexion flushed pink. He’d never tire of her sweet blushes. “Second night?”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
Leaning forward, he kissed her. It was nothing more than a soft touch of their lips, but it filled Elias with overwhelming happiness and something he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
Anticipation.