Fucker.
She tried eliciting pity. “I feel like I’m stretched on a medieval rack, Jared,” she said with a whimper. “It’s uncomfortable.”
Jared grinned down at her. “Liar. Tell that to your traitorous nipples.”
Pamela lifted her head and glanced down at her chest.
Hello.
The suckers stood at full attention.
She dropped back and sighed. “It’s kind of chilly in here, Marlowe. Getting frugal with the heat?”
He chuckled. “Nice try, sweet pea.” He gave each breast a fond peck before standing up. “Let’s go before there’s a flood.”
Jared led her into the bathroom, and Pam forced herself to forget her nudity. He turned off the tap, then stripped off his sweatpants before removing her shoes and stockings. After climbing into the tub, he settled back into the warm water. When she joined him, he wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her against his chest.
After they relaxed a bit, Jared bathed her. Thoroughly. Pamela felt alternately embarrassed and aroused as he washed every inch of her body with bare hands. Even as his fingers slid between the lips of her pussy, she let him perform this act of deep intimacy without a murmur, sensing its importance to him. After he finished shampooing her hair, she returned the favor—enjoying the feel of his big, muscular body under her soapy fingers.
Pam was pleased when he let her wear one of his T-shirts. She considered protesting when Jared instructed her to put back on the heels, but his tone of voice and the firm set of his jaw forbade any disobedience.
Jared directed her into the kitchen. After offering her a diet soda, he opened a beer for himself. They sipped in companionable silence for a moment; then, grabbing her hand, he steered her toward the rear of the apartment.
She recognized the room they entered, with its paneled walls, black-sheeted bed, and luxuriant carpeting. Although well-appointed like the rest of his place, it seemed less inviting. “It’s a nice space,” she complimented. “I never asked. What do you use it for? Guests?”
He turned to her. “It’s soundproof, so it serves many purposes,” he said vaguely. Letting go of her hand, he walked over to a padded leather chair and sat. “I think it’s the perfect place for us to resolve some of our issues.”
“What do you mean?”
At his gesture, she handed him her half-finished soda. Jared settled back and placed their drinks on a nearby surface. “I have to admit that I have a tendency to be overprotective when it comes to you. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve had so much trouble communicating. I’m always so busy trying to shield you that…” He sighed and shook his head. “From now on, I’m going to be more direct with you. Even if what I’m sharing might upset you. I’ll make this brief.”
A thrill ran up her spine. What was Jared getting at? It had to be important, judging by the tight set of his lips and the tension in his shoulders. “Talk to me, Jared. I’m getting nervous.”
Jared sat up straight in the chair, thighs spread slightly apart. Something in his bearing made her shiver.
“Come here, my pet,” he instructed.
“Pet?” she snapped, her hackles rising at his bossy tone and the nickname. “What if I don’t feel like obeying?”
“Pamela.” The steel had crept into his voice, setting her nerves on edge.
“Not until you tell me why,” she hedged.
Jared’s eyes narrowed. He patted his thigh.
She reeled back. “What the hell do you want? A goddamn lap dance?”
His face darkened. “Don’t make me repeat myself.”
As if they had a will of their own, Pamela’s legs moved forward. Then, realizing what she was doing, she stopped a few feet short of him. No way was she going to submit to his demands.
Jared was on her like a cobra striking at its prey. He snatched her by the waist and pulled her between his spread thighs. One hand circled both her wrists, while the other pressed against the small of her back. “You will not curse when addressing me again.” His eyes glittered. “Do I make myself clear?”
The unexpected rebuke was bad enough, but his obvious disappointment tugged at her insides. She swallowed, nodding.
His nostrils flared. “Say it.”
“Yes,” she replied, appalled at her meek tone. Where was the ball-breaking girl everyone knew and loved? Was she her mother’s child, or the unclaimed spawn of some Stepford wife?
Pam’s racing thoughts screeched to a halt at Jared’s next words.
“Our relationship has entered a new phase, starting right now. Neither of us has been much good at communicating with the other, and I want this to improve at both ends. Agreed?” He waited.
Pam nodded; then she caught herself. “I agree.”
“Very good,” he said. “This requires honesty from both parties. We both know outright lying is dishonest but so are lies of omission. Do you know what that is?”
“Yes,” she replied. “It’s when someone withholds certain details of a situation from others. Sometimes it’s done deliberately, stemming from either malice or simply a wish to protect the parties involved. Conversely, some people repress information because at some level they realize it has potential to do harm. That’s why lawyers cross-examine people. To uncover these truths.”
Jared stared at her, admiration lighting up his face. “So damned smart.” Then he sighed. “Well, I’m definitely guilty of a lie of omission. The decision to withhold information was based partly on fear, but it was mostly done to protect you.”
Pam’s stomach tightened at his words. She shifted from one foot to the other. “Please explain.”
Jared released her hands. But Pam needed no physical restraints to compel her to stay. Indeed, she shifted toward him. Strange how he had that effect on her.
He ran both hands through his hair, the vulnerable gesture making her heart ache.
“I have a strong desire to have control in the bedroom. My sexual needs lean toward Dominance.” He sat back, waiting for a response.
Her heart did a little flip. “Do you mean you like…” Pam scoured her brain. “What’s it called…BS-something?”
His eyes danced at that. “Close. BDSM. I’m a Dominant who prefers sexually submissive women.”
Her hands flew to her mouth. “Oh my God, Jared.”
Jared arched a brow.
She paused, letting it all sink in. “Wait. The spanks you gave me earlier. You liked doing that, didn’t you?”
“Yes, indeed.” He fondled her ass under the oversize T-shirt. “And so did you, my pet.”
“Huh?” she protested. “I did not! How can you assume…”
“Come on.” Jared’s expression remained solemn, but his lips twitched. “Credit me with knowing you a little. Being former military, I haven’t always been a regular on the BDSM scene. But I’m experienced enough as a Dom to detect a favorable response.”
No. Well, maybe.
Not sure what to say, Pam kept quiet.
Jared cupped her chin. “Did you like the spanks, just a little?”
She closed her eyes. “Yes.” By the time she opened them again, his features had softened.
Jared slid a hand up her cheek and stroked it gently. “Want to continue?”
She hesitated, then surprised herself by nodding.
“Good, my brave girl. I will take care of you. That I promise. Okay?”
Her pulse fluttered. Just a bit. “Yes.”
At that, he smiled. “Thank you, sweetheart. Now, let’s move on to some action. I want to play a little.” He paused and looked straight into her eyes. “If you want me to stop at any point, say the word ‘sugar.’ It’s called a safe word. If you use it, all activity will cease, no questions asked. Understand, though, that all play will end. All right?”
Pamela frowned. “So if I don’t do what you want, you’ll reject me? Not nice.” She felt tears welling up, but she couldn’t help it.
Jared let out a soft breath. “No. You misunderstand me.” He perched her on his lap and cradled her face in his hands. “Listen. Earlier this evening, you showed signs of being a submissive. Now that I’ve seen your responses, I want to explore that possibility with you and test your limits. I assumed you would like to at least give it a try. If you don’t, or if I’ve misread you, I think it’s a good idea if we take a breather. Or we can try again. Your choice.”
She deliberated on this for a moment. “I see what you’re saying. You really want to do this but don’t want to force me. And if I refuse to proceed, or if you don’t make good judgments about my limits, a little time will give us both a chance to regroup. But I can continue if I want to.”
“Exactly,” Jared said. “You understand me so well.” He nuzzled her breasts.
Pam’s insides melted at his playfulness. “Well, let’s give it a whirl. I trust you.”
He stilled and looked at her. “That’s what I needed to hear. Think of this as a power exchange. You can’t do that with just anyone. It must be with someone you trust. And true BDSM is all about trust.”
“Then we have a good foundation,” she noted. “Can you tell me what you are planning to do?”
“Absolutely,” Jared affirmed. “It’s called a scene. I’d like to see your reaction to a bare-handed spanking. Understand that sometimes a spanking is erotic, other times it’s about discipline, oftentimes it’s both. It will always sting, but sometimes a sub experiences a great deal of pleasure when her body adjusts. Just remember, as with all kinky play, it must always be safe, sane, and consensual.”
Relief flooded her. “Well, I think that’s a pretty self-explanatory saying. I just want you to know I won’t do anything that freaks me out.”
Jared nodded. “And you never should. Ever. If anything makes you feel even a little squeamish or uncomfortable, you must use your safe word to stop all play. Without hesitation. Even if the sensations feel good but become too overwhelming. Ultimately, you’re the one in control. Not me. Never forget that. Okay?”
“Okay. You never have to worry about me being reluctant in that regard. I’m going to be as vocal as they come.”
“Good.”
She sat up straighter, determined to see this through. “All right, then. Where do we start?”
Jared looked at her darkly. “You must mean where do I start?”
Pam tossed her head with impatience. “Here we go again with the semantics. Whatever. Take charge, Mr. Dom. Let’s get a move on.”
“Already topping from the bottom, eh, sweetheart?” He gripped her nape while sliding his other hand around her waist. Without further preamble, Jared lifted Pam and positioned her facedown over his lap.
Her shocked yip ended in a startled yelp when he held her down and lifted her T-shirt until it bunched at her waist. Cool air caressed her naked bottom.
“Goddamn it. Shit.” She tried pushing herself off his lap. “What the f-frig are you doing? I agreed to work with you on this BS stuff!”
But a dim understanding had begun to take hold before the words left her lips. Jared was going to give her an old-fashioned pounding.
Over his knee.
She tried wiggling off his lap, but this proved impossible with the iron bands welded across her thighs and upper back.
“I’m going to give you a long overdue ass-whooping,” Jared declared, confirming her suspicions.
Pam froze. “But you did that earlier,” she argued.
He scoffed at her words. “That was a little test. Three taps is barely a warm-up. Last I counted, you had thirty-five coming.”
She tried bucking out of his grip, but he held her down. “Are you joking? What the f-freak did I do to deserve that?”
Jared snorted. “Actually, I’m being lenient because you’re a novice. Count your blessings.”
Pam lay still, trying to catch her breath. A hardened palm smoothed over her ass. Even in her panicked state, she had a vision of its vast whiteness nearly blinding him. She tried masking her uncertainty with a snappy comeback. “Right. Take advantage of my powerlessness to cop a feel,” she sniped.
“Five more swats. You’re up to forty now. Want to say your safe word?” he taunted.
Fucking fuck.
“Why forty? That seems extreme.”
Jared’s fingers slipped between her closed thighs, forcing them a couple of inches apart. He paused to answer her question. “Where do I start? First, you refused to tell me why you were so pissed off the last few weeks. Second, you deliberately provoked me with your little striptease. Then you tried bending me to your will twice—first by demanding a kiss when I didn’t move fast enough, then by ordering me around even after I hinted at my Dominant nature. When that didn’t work, you gave me that little love bite as if in warning. Very willful. Last, you cursed at and sassed me.”
Oh. She kind of saw his point now, but she’d walk the streets of Manhattan stark-naked and with her hair afire before she’d ever admit it to him.
The first blow landed on the left cheek. It startled her but didn’t really hurt. The second landed on the right buttock, much like the first.
Piece of cake, she thought, feeling a bit smug. The third and fourth came down with similar force, but these stung, as each ended up on the exact spots as the first and second. Number five struck the middle of her ass with a loud crack, and despite herself, she flinched.
Pam’s booty was now getting warmed up, yet the sensation was not altogether unpleasant. She almost changed her mind when several slaps landed close to her upper thighs, the strikes on the unexpected targets causing involuntary jerks.
Angry with herself for being a wimp, Pam resolved to tough it out.
A series of whacks rained down on her right side. These were harder and delivered in rapid succession, and Pam’s fortitude soon dissolved in the face of the onslaught. Wailing, she covered her aching butt with her hands—anything to quell the burning sensation now radiating down her right cheek.
Jared stopped; then, seizing her arms, he trapped them behind her back. Holding them still, he spoke. “If you try that again, I’ll tie your wrists together. I could have really hurt you just now.” He paused to let his words sink in. “Are you going to behave yourself?”
“Yes.” The curt response sounded more than a little hostile.
“You will call me Sir in the bedroom from now on. Got it?”
She hesitated, and he slapped the sorest part of her tush for motivation.
“Yes, Sir,” she replied.
A fresh volley of thumps lit up her left cheek. Soon its burning ache rivaled the throbbing on her right side. Jared kept at it, alternating the spanks. There was no discernable pattern, so Pam could never tell where he was going to strike next.