Strictly Business: Hooded Pleasures, Book 1 (8 page)

The softness in her gaze brought tears to his eyes.

“I’ll forgive you this time, but only because it’s our first meeting.” The leather stroked his chin. “Next time you lose count, we’ll start over again from the beginning.” She rapped the edge of his nose with the crop. “Over and over again from zero until you get it right. And while you might think that could be fun, let me point out that I’ll know if you’re trying to top from the bottom, attempting to control what happens next.” The flap of leather rested under his chin. “I am not a stupid woman. I will make you pay for it if I catch you doing that, and then I will no longer be your Domme. Do you understand?”

He nodded.

“That’s a good boy.” She turned to her duffle bag. “Time for a change of pace.”

He gulped as she extracted a large metal hook from her duffle bag. For a split second, he thought about his safe-word.

Kill switch.

Kate looked at him and pursed her lips, her eyebrows coming together in a frown as she picked up on his fear.

“Calm down.” Her smile soothed his panic away. “Stand up and turn around. Face me.”

He did so, wincing as he straightened up. A few of his back muscles protested, not used to being in that position for so long.

There wasn’t a workout routine to prepare for a spanking.

At least none he’d heard of.

Maybe a search online could turn up one.

The disconnected thought pulled him back from the fear of not knowing what was next.

“Don’t worry, Alex.” Kate went to the closet door in the hallway and opened it. She placed the hook on the top of the door and closed it, locking it in place. “It’s not going into you.” A sideways wink sent his heart racing. “Although there are options if you’d like to explore them. But we can discuss that later.”

She returned to the duffle and pulled out a set of leather cuffs.

He sucked in his breath at seeing them. It was one thing to see pictures, imagine having them on him, even buying a cheap set to play with by himself—another to see them in the hands of a professional.

Kate held them in front of him. “The hook is going to hold you up while I flog that beautiful bare back.” She tilted her head to one side with a smile. “Since you don’t have an actual dungeon here, improvisation is the name of the game.”

He nodded and stayed silent as she fastened the leather restraints around each wrist. The Velcro bands were snug against his skin.

Alex frowned, wondering why she hadn’t used cuffs with buckles.

As before, Kate was ahead of him. She ran her fingers along the edges of the wide bands, softly brushing against his skin.

“Easy release.” She eyed him. “I always use these for the first few times with someone new. Fewer panic attacks. If I have to get them off quickly, it’ll work a lot better than fumbling around.”

He wanted to tell her he’d be able to handle the real thing right here, right now, but he couldn’t.

He couldn’t. His tongue was thick and frozen in place as he stared at the restraints on his wrists, the feel of the leather mixed with the roughness of the collar on his neck sending shockwaves through his body.

Alex looked at her.

“I know what you’re thinking, but not yet. Walk before you run.” Kate stroked his cheek. “Trust me. I understand what you want, what you need.”

She does.

The revelation almost broke him open.

She gets this.

“Now get your hands up. I don’t have all day.” She pushed him toward the door.

Chapter Five

Kate felt like she’d been handed a winning lottery ticket.

Alex lifted his arms and stepped forward to hang the chain connecting the cuffs on the hook. The effort had him stretching up on the balls of his feet, a hiss escaping as his battered ass protested the movement.

When his cock brushed against the cold varnished wood, he gasped and yanked his hips back, arching away from the stimulation. Alex rocked back and forth, unable to stand comfortably and unable to lean against the door for support.

Perfect.

She walked to her duffle bag to retrieve the deer hide flogger, watching Alex for any signs of distress.

He twisted back and forth to find his best footing and settled for rocking on his toes to alleviate the slight strain on his arms and down again, arching back to avoid contact with the door.

Kate stroked the fat soft strands, eying her target.

Perfect.

She moved behind him.

He froze in place.

She laid the flogger over his shoulder, relishing the shudders from her touch. Drawing it down over his back slowly, Kate watched him twitch and shake in anticipation.

You never forget your first time.

Kate stepped back.

“Ready?” She always asked permission for the first few times to make sure the situation was acceptable.

His nod released her hand, the strands flying free under her skilled application.

Beautiful.

His flesh came alive under her touch, reddening with each smack of the whip as she worked him over, rotating from his broad, solid shoulders down to his still-sore ass and back. Every few minutes she stopped and let him rest, giving him a chance to safe-word out if he wanted to.

Pushing him to the edge but not letting him go over.

It was a skill, one she’d cultivated over the years.

She admired the way he stood proud under her assault, not twisting to get out of the way of the flogger or trying to dictate where the tails would land. The sweat poured off him, highlighting the irritated stripes as they rose from his skin.

He is so beautiful—

The soft chime brought her out of her own space, reminded her she was on the clock and time was almost up.

She frowned, making sure he didn’t turn and see her.

It was so tempting to ignore the clock, soak a bit longer in the experience.

Not about you.

She forced herself to come back down from the emotional high he was giving her.

All about him.

Alex panted, arms outstretched against the door. His hips rocked back and forth as he tried to avoid brushing against the wood. It’d been an ongoing battle through the entire session, and she saw the pre-come stains on the door, the smeared evidence of his enjoyment.

“That’s enough.” She leaned in and kissed his cheek. “Enough for now. You did well. I’m proud of you.”

Kate reached up and undid the chain holding the cuffs together on the hook, releasing the stress on his arms. Before he could act, she pressed up against him from behind and took hold of each hand. Slowly, she brought them down to his sides, feeling the muscles tremble under her touch.

Alex twitched as she brushed the lace and leather across his inflamed skin. He let out a soft cry as she backed away.

He’d sleep well tonight.

And dream of her.

“Is that—” Alex drew a shuddering breath and rocked back on his feet. “Thank you.” He turned his head and stared directly at her. “Thank you,” he repeated. His blue eyes were wide and unfocused, but she saw him coming back down, the emotional rush subsiding.

So lovely—

Kate caught herself moving in for a kiss and froze. The wave of emotion flooded her senses, catching her unaware.

No.

Not for you.

She bit her lip, holding back a moan. The familiar ache between her legs, a usual visitor after each session, surged forth with a demand for immediate satisfaction.

No.

NO.

Alex frowned. “What did you say?” He paused, catching his mistake. “I’m sorry. What did you say, Mistress?”

She took a step back, breaking the connection between them.

“I didn’t say anything.” Kate cleared her throat. “Hands up.”

He complied without question.

She pulled the cuffs off, the fabric ripping away with ease. The tearing noise sounded like thunder, the only other sound aside from Alex’s strained breathing.

She tossed them toward the duffle bag and focused herself on the aftercare, filing away her emotions. “Come here.” She pushed the bag onto the floor near her feet.

Alex came around the couch and stood there, waiting.

Kate sat and patted the cushion beside her. “Sit.”

He sighed as he settled onto the leather, wincing as his bare skin hit the cool surface.

Kate reached down and pulled an energy drink out of the bag, along with a chocolate bar. She offered them to him.

She’d told him to lay in supplies, but new clients always forgot the first time or didn’t think to have them nearby.

Alex looked at the can in puzzlement.

She couldn’t help smiling. He still hadn’t come back to himself.

A folded afghan lay under the coffee table. It was a handmade one, from the way it looked, striped with low muted colors. She had an emergency blanket in her bag but preferred to use the client’s materials as much as possible to keep them comfortable.

Kate put down the snack and pulled out the crocheted blanket. She wrapped it around Alex’s shoulders, noting his shuddering at the simple touch. He leaned in toward her instinctively, seeking the comfort.

In this, he was just like all her other clients.

She put her arm across his covered shoulders and pulled him in.

He moaned, face buried in her corset. It wasn’t a sexual sound—it was one of exhaustion.

“You did well for your first time.” She stroked his damp hair. “Lovely. I’m so proud of you.”

The answering sigh caressed her ears, hushed her need for the time being.

She reached down and picked up the chocolate bar. Kate pulled the wrapper open with her teeth and handed it to him. “You’re dehydrated. Eat. Then drink. Don’t rush.” She warned him, “I don’t want you to get sick.”

Alex bit down on the bar and slowly chewed.

Kate opened the drink and took a light sip before offering it to him. She was exhausted but had to take care of Alex first. The lukewarm drink helped resurrect her flagging energy, and she watched carefully as he finished both off.

She picked up her phone and tapped in a second code, telling the office she was fine and taking care of Alex. It was understood that she’d stay as long as she had to. She wasn’t going to rush off until she knew he was okay and recovered from his experience.

It wasn’t an unwelcome chore.

Finally, he stirred, and she saw the focused pupils, the shift in attitude showing he’d come back down.

Kate reached into her duffle bag and pulled out the key.

Alex’s lips curved into a pout, and she chuckled.

“Stay still.” She reached behind and unlocked the collar. It took a few seconds to undo the buckle and pull it free.

She snapped the lock shut again and placed the leather strap on the table, leaving the key in the lock.

He sighed and leaned on her again, finishing the transition.

She felt the shift in his muscles first. He rolled his shoulders back and stretched his arms and legs out before sitting up.

He reached around the corner of the sofa and tugged a plastic bag into sight. As Kate watched, Alex extracted out an iced coffee and snapped it open. He downed most of it in a pair of gulps before offering it to her.

She took a few sips before returning it, letting him take control.

Alex finished off the drink and crushed the can in his fist before dropping it into the plastic bag. Kate saw there were another five, plus a box of granola bars.

He was prepared.

Nice.

He settled in beside her again. They sat in silence for another few minutes until she felt it was time to move on.

“Okay.” Kate cleared her throat. “Okay. Same time next week?”

“Yes. Next week.” He looked at her as if she were a new problem to be solved, the curious look mixed with exhaustion. “What’s the usual procedure from here?” Alex frowned. “I seem to have forgotten what I read in your information packet.”

Kate reached for the riding crop where it lay on the floor. “You pay me, and I leave.”

“Yes. Right.” Alex stood and gave himself a shake as if he’d just woken up. He dropped the blanket as he strode across the room to where his pants lay, neatly folded atop the pile of clothing. “Is there—I mean, do you want some coffee?” He fumbled with his wallet. “Can I get you something, Mis—”

“I removed your collar. Just Kate.” She wrestled the crop into the bag. “No, thank you.”

“I understand.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Just that I wouldn’t have a problem if you wanted to stay for a few more minutes until you’re fully recovered as well. I can leave you alone if you’d like.” Alex gestured toward the computer table, a weary smile rising. “At some point I need to get back to work. No rest for the wicked.”

Kate yanked on the zipper. It was tempting to take advantage of his offer, his politeness downright adorable. She was tired, and it wouldn’t take much more to convince her to stay, maybe ask him about his current projects.

But she couldn’t.

Kate gave him as soft a smile as she could. “The rules. It’s time for me to go.”

He nodded with a wan grin, and she desperately wanted to touch him again, pull him into her arms and back down onto the couch.

Go far, far beyond what she gave her other clients. There was a thin line between generic aftercare and moving onward from that to the emotional and physical finale most relationships demanded.

For example—

Her attention dropped to his erection, firm and ready to go despite his exhaustion.

One touch, and he’d erupt in her hand.

She knew it.

It took all she had not to reach out and touch him, grip his cock and pull him close.

One leg around his hip, and he’d slide in so quick and easy—

“Kate?”

She blinked and saw Alex holding out his credit card.

“Thank you.” She snatched it out of his hand and picked up her phone, keeping her head down to try to bring it back together.

A fast swipe through her card reader, and she handed it back to him, avoiding further eye contact by busily typing in her safety code to tell the office she was done.

Done but not
done
. Not by a long shot.

It was going to be a long, frustrating ride back to her place.

Alex put the credit card back in his wallet and picked up his briefs. He hesitated, and she knew why.

He was as hard as a rock, and there was no way he’d be putting those on right away.

Kate allowed herself a smile despite her own internal struggle.

Mission accomplished.

She packed up her gear in record time and grabbed her coat. The black slicker fell easily over her clothing, hiding the sweaty leather-and-lace outfit.

Alex watched her in silence. He obviously wasn’t going to try to start a conversation again.

Good.

There was nothing more uncomfortable than trying to extricate oneself from an appointment without seeming impolite or, worse, silly. When it was over, it was over, payment rendered and a polite good-bye issued.

Strictly business.

“I’ll see you next week,” Kate said as she headed for the door. She strode through and pulled the heavy wooden door shut, trying not to imagine what was going to happen on the other side.

It was a long walk to her car, and she considered sitting in it for a few more minutes to torture him more.

Or torture herself.

Kate gritted her teeth and turned the key in the ignition. She was not going to be a slave to her emotions, giving in to her baser needs.

Strictly business.

Alex resisted the urge until the door clicked behind her, cutting him free from her spell.

He groaned as he reached down and touched himself, the oversensitized skin leaping at the mere brush of his fingers.

He’d almost come a number of times in the past hour. The only thought that had sustained him, pulled him back from the edge, had been the fear of Kate’s disapproving look.

She would stop the session, stop giving him what he wanted.

Anything but that.

Alex mentally relived the past two hours, squeezing and intensifying his grip on his cock.

The spanking, the flogging—it’d been everything he’d envisioned and yet nothing like what he’d expected.

The heat spreading out from her contact, twisting and turning through every fiber of his being until he was at the edge of crying, of breaking under her touch.

She’d stopped then. Right on the edge.

He’d recovered, and it’d started again. Slow, methodical, as if she were rewriting his lines of code, slipping new data next to the old and meshing them together perfectly.

Grinding his teeth, biting his lip, mentally running through programming quizzes helped him stay off the edge as much as possible.

But after over an hour of teasing and taunting, he was ready to come and come hard.

He sighed, remembering the last few minutes he’d hung on the wall. His shoulders had ached, but he hadn’t wanted to tap out, say the words that would have stopped her.

He’d held on to the end for her, pushing himself to stay strong even as every touch became torture, every brush against the wooden door agony for his straining balls and cock.

The kiss on the cheek had almost sent him off the emotional cliff.

But he’d held on.

He would have thought cuddling on the couch would have dampened his urge, the sheer exhaustion killing his libido.

It’d only enhanced it, exaggerated it to the point of sheer pain. He remembered the smell of her perfume, of her sweat as they sat together, his head on her shoulder.