Harnessed (10 page)

“I can’t imagine that you would have chosen him otherwise,” Elise said and the master of the stables smiled before he bowed.

Then Nigel cracked the whip over the ponies and they stepped forward as one. They matched each other’s gaits very quickly and pulled the carriage on to the gravel path at a quick pace. Elise could have watched the ripple of their muscles all day long, but she forced herself to look around and savor the view. Nigel showed little inclination to chat, and she caught him ogling the men in harness often enough to make her smile.

It was amusing to think they had something in common.

They passed the pasture where a number of human ponies were enjoying the sunshine. Some were lying in the grass, others chasing each other, still others leaning against the fences. She saw a blond man watching the carriage and deliberately averted her gaze, her heart pounding. As the manor and its stables fell away behind them, she forgot about Tyler, though, and simply enjoyed the ride. The wind was crisp, the sky a beautiful clear blue, and sea birds flew overhead. She supposed the island wasn’t large enough that there was any part of it far from the ocean. She could see the waves of the sea in the distance, slate grey and roiling.

“Like another place and time,” she murmured under her breath without meaning to do so.

“A splendid illusion,” Nigel agreed. He winked at her. “And quite possibly an addictive one. That is the beauty of doing a thing so well.”

“I expect The Phoenix will have a lot of repeat business for Windswept.”

“And no shortage of applicants for full time work,” Nigel agreed. “They’re going to offer time shares. I’m seriously tempted.”

“Expensive?”

His quick smile was wicked. “Of course. But isn’t the root of all we do the conviction that pleasure is worth a little pain?”

Elise laughed. It was easy to banter with him, perhaps because she knew he had no interest in her. “What’s your favorite part of it?”

“Besides the attention to detail?” Nigel shrugged. “The consensus, I think. That’s what I liked best about The Plume, too. They’re careful about putting people together whose fantasies intersect. They know when to manage and when to step away. That’s not a skill easily learned.”

“Maybe because both partners of The Phoenix are dominant.”

He nodded. “Maybe that, and the breadth of their experience.” He winced. “I’m actually thinking of accepting a job here.”

“Why don’t you?”

“I’m not sure if having it all the time would take away the thrill. Athena is coming to discuss it with me during my second week.”

“If anyone understands how to keep the thrill alive, it would be her or Rex.”

“That’s what I’m thinking.” He gestured to the ponies ahead of them. “Because it wouldn’t be worth it if I got to the point of looking at this kind of view and not appreciating it with every inch of my body.”

Elise nodded agreement. She hadn’t thought much about the people who worked here, but she supposed that was a cheaper way to experience fantasies. She, too, would have been afraid the excitement would fade.

She was pretty sure she’d miss her work. She liked designing websites and ensuring that the message presented to the world echoed her client’s brand and goals as well as possible. She wanted some of each, practical work and pleasure, which she supposed was how she’d been seduced into the mess of her relationship with Tyler.

If he’d always been the way he was now, there wouldn’t have been a relationship. But it had been a slow slide, a transition into darkness, and one she was determined never to endure again.

Nigel clicked his tongue and tugged the reins, guiding the ponies to turn right. The forest that covered part of the island loomed ahead, its shadows deep. He halted the carriage, although there was no clear reason to do so, then jumped down to tether Smoke’s reins to a stump. He freed Storm’s harness from the carriage, then gave her a playful look.

“I don’t suppose you’d care to join us,” he said lightly. “You are welcome to participate, of course.”

In what?

“I’ll stay with the carriage, thank you.” Elise spoke quickly. “Will you be long?”

Nigel smiled. “I’ve no idea,” he said, his hand running over Storm. Elise sensed the harnessed man’s trepidation, even in his stillness. Nigel winked at Elise again, then led Storm into the shadows of the forest.

Elise watched until they disappeared into the shadows and Nigel’s voice faded to nothing. She could only hear the wind in the branches of the trees, the sound of Smoke’s breathing and the distant crash of waves on the shore.

“You must be thirsty,” she said to the remaining pony, noting the glisten of perspiration on his back. He bobbed his head and she climbed out of the carriage. At the back was a small bucket and a reservoir of water. She filled the bucket, then went to his side. She had to put the bucket down to remove his bit, then lifted the bucket so he could drink. His green eyes locked with hers as he drank with obvious gratitude.

“You should watch him,” he whispered, his lips barely moving. His gaze flicked in the direction Nigel had gone and back to Elise. “Take the whip.”

“You’ve been here before, haven’t you, Storm?” she crooned, speaking as one would to a horse. She stroked the back of his neck as he finished his drink and he nodded once, his gaze clinging to hers. She couldn’t just leave him, harnessed like this, not standing in a sweat with a cold wind blowing. She took a blanket out of the carriage and cast it over his back, tucking the ends into the front of the harness to secure them.

He pursed his lips, blowing her a silent kiss.

Elise kissed his cheek, took the whip, and went in pursuit of Nigel and Storm.

* * *

 
“It’s a question of perspective, really,” the lord said as he led Josh more deeply into the woods.

There was nothing about this scenario Josh found appealing, and he had to forcibly remind himself that he had surrendered. He wasn’t going to use his safe word until he knew what was on the agenda. Part of being submissive was trusting those who dominated you to ensure your pleasure as well as their own. He’d done it a thousand times himself, but being on the other end of the situation was more difficult than he’d imagined.

He supposed he tended not to trust strangers.

But then, living in the spotlight would do that to a person. Being on stage, being recognizable and somewhat famous had a lot of repercussions. The loss of privacy was one thing. But being targeted was what Josh hated the most. He found it distracting to have to deal with other people’s demands and expectations. He blamed that reaction for the disappearance of the music. He’d left the band to put all that behind himself. He’d come to Windswept in search of silence and solitude.

Having this lord of the manor want more from him was exactly what Josh didn’t need.

He’d already dispelled Josh’s tranquility the night before, and Josh resented that he’d expect even more. Still he followed him, determined to find out what was at stake before he bailed on the scene.

Meanwhile, Nigel continued to talk, his tone easy and his manner relaxed. “A few days ago, for example, I arrived here in pursuit of my own pleasure. Just a day before your own arrival, as a matter of fact. Perhaps our objectives were the same. At any rate, my own notions changed with my experience here, and changed very rapidly.” He spared Josh a glance. “A change in perspective modifies all plans.”

Josh had to wonder what his point was.

“Two days ago, I brought Smoke to this very place. We had a very satisfying scene, quite hot in my opinion.” Nigel smiled as he halted in a small clearing. “A little rough, but one would hardly expect otherwise with horses.”

Josh felt his pulse increase. He clenched his fists, fighting his urge to bolt, reminding himself to listen to the whole story before he decided.

Nigel glanced back toward the carriage, now hidden beyond the foliage and forest. “But in the last day, I’ve entered into discussions with the partners of The Phoenix. I’m considering the merit of an offer to be employed here, and that changes everything.”

Josh watched the other man, not understanding.

“My pleasure must take a back seat, so to speak, to the pleasure of paying clients.” Nigel shook his head, clearly amused. “I find myself in the position of making fantasies come true, which may or may not satisfy my own.”

He listened for a moment, his gaze flicking over the shadows. He quickly bent Josh over a fallen tree bough and tethered him to a tree on the far side. The bough was about three feet across and as high as Josh’s waist. He found himself trapped over it as Nigel kicked his feet apart.

“Widen your stance, boy,” Nigel said, his voice hard. Josh fought the bit and tried to see the man’s actions around the blinders. Nigel was unfastening his trousers, a familiar gleam in his eye. He moved behind Josh where Josh couldn’t see him, but his deft removal of the butt plug holding the tail in place made his plans more than clear.

Josh froze. Should he fight or submit? He smelled the lubricant and knew he wouldn’t be hurt by the encounter. It wasn’t his usual scene, but maybe there was something to be learned in trying something different.

“Well, my good boy,” Nigel whispered. He sighed as he eased himself inside Josh, his cock stretching Josh wide and filling him. “Maybe everyone’s dream can come true,” he whispered raggedly, then rested his head on Josh’s back. He reached around Josh and loosened the leather sheath that encased Josh’s cock. Josh heard it fall to the ground, then the lord of the manor began to caress him.

It felt divine. Josh closed his eyes, stifling the urge to moan as Nigel moved inside him and caressed him at the same time. His heart was skipping, his blood pumping. He was captive and bound, but being tormented by pleasure. It was a delicious combination of anguish and pleasure.

And that was before he heard a gasp of surprise.

He looked up to find the lady staring at them, the whip from the carriage in her hand. The sight of her made him immediately harder, yet also prompted him to struggle against his bonds. He didn’t want her to see him this way, but there was nothing he could do about it.

“Nothing like a restless steed,” Nigel said from behind him, his hands holding Josh in place. “Do come and help, my dear.”

“Help?” she echoed, her gaze flitting over them.

“It is said that a lady’s kiss will soothe the most agitated beast.”

The very suggestion sent a jolt through Josh. He couldn’t have her touch him now, now when he was being teased so expertly. He tried to kick his way free, but it was too late for that. On the other hand, he had no desire to use his safe word. The scene was so hot and the lady was so luscious. His cock was growing harder by the second as she studied him.

“Perhaps you are right, Nigel,” she said. She set down the whip, then lifted her skirts to walk through the undergrowth toward Josh. He could see her puss, he could smell her puss, and even better he could see the silver clamp hanging from her clitoris. The sight of it pinching that red bud sent white fire through his body. “One must be kind to one’s pets,” she whispered as she halted before him. She was removing his bit then, her gloved fingers sliding into his hair, her gaze locking with his as she studied him. “What a beautiful boy,” she murmured, then bent and touched her lips to his.

It was no gentle kiss she gave him but a claim of his body and his soul. She angled her mouth over his, holding him captive to her embrace, and practically devoured his mouth. Her hunger and passion were incredible and exhilarating. At the same time, Nigel was driving into him with a rhythm he wanted to echo himself, and Josh found his own hips pumping against the fallen log. The scene wouldn’t have worked for him without the demanding hunger of her kiss—as it was, he wanted to last forever.

He knew he wouldn’t. He was spellbound by the scent of her body, mingled with a floral perfume and the sweet honey of her wet puss. He thought of that clamp, knew she’d chosen to put it on herself, and wanted to remove it. He wanted to eat her, to please her, to bury himself inside her, to lose himself in her touch. But it wasn’t up to him. He was a possession, a captive, a tool for the pleasure of both of them.

Yet strangely enough, there was nowhere else he wanted to be. He came with a shout, his orgasm emptying him body and soul, and Nigel gave a grunt of satisfaction in almost the same moment. The lady stood before him, heat radiating from her body, her nipples taut and her desire clear.

Nigel withdrew and slapped Josh’s rump. “I leave the lady’s satisfaction to you, boy,” he said, a thread of humor in his tone. “I wouldn’t want Smoke to feel neglected.” Josh was aware that Nigel fastened his trousers and picked up the whip. He heard the other man walk away, but he was staring at the woman who had claimed him with a kiss.

She came around behind him, cleaned him up and replaced the leather sheath on his cock. He was afraid she meant to deny herself, maybe she wasn’t used to expecting pleasure herself, but then she untied his reins. She flung them over his back, then boosted herself onto the fallen tree branch.

“I find myself in need of your assistance,” she whispered, her eyes shining and her voice husky. As he stared in awe, she spread her legs wide, displaying herself to him, and leaned back against a tree that still grew there.

Josh didn’t need a second invitation to partake of the feast she offered.