Slapping Leather Read online

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  When he lifted her into his arms, she felt completely limp. Depleted. And happier and more satisfied than she’d been in ages. She looped her arms around Alex’s neck and rested her head against his shoulder.

  His laugh rumbled in his chest. “How lucky am I that you chose tonight to come to Rawhide?”

  He lowered his mouth to hers, touching her lips lightly before increasing the pressure. His tongue licked the seam then slipped inside and turned the kiss into a full blown assault on her mouth. His taste was as sinful as dark chocolate and just as rich. Addictive, even. His tongue melted against her like a rich confection, and she wondered if she could come just from kissing him.

  When she was completely breathless, he lifted his head and smiled at her. “Are you together enough to drive home or shall I take you?”

  That jolted her. “Oh, lord, no. That’s all my crew would need to see.”

  He frowned. “Liz, you’re a woman. And a hell of a one at that. Surely the people who work for you don’t expect you to live like a nun.”

  “You don’t understand.” She shifted in his arms, and he lowered her to her feet. “They’re all just looking for one tiny sign of weakness from me. The only place I can be me is here. I can give up control completely.”

  “That’s a hell of a way to live.”

  “Trust me. It’s the only way.” She smiled at him. “May I dress, Sir?”

  “Of course.” He cupped her cheeks and kissed her, licking the seam of her lips. “But I want to see you again. Are you good with that?”

  “As long as we keep everything here at Rawhide.”

  He frowned. “What if I want to take you out to dinner? Or for a drink?”

  She shook her head, pulling on her clothes and straightening them. “No. Please. Don’t push me.”

  I can’t do that again. I can’t.

  He sighed. “Fine. Okay. At least for now. Today is Wednesday. Meet me here Friday night.” When she opened her mouth to protest, he held up his hand. “Remember, in this room my word is still law. Friday night, Elizabeth. Don’t disappoint me.”

  For a moment, she was tempted to try protesting again. Then she realized she really wanted to see him again. She wanted another night like tonight and she wanted it with Alex Wright.

  “All right. Will nine o’clock be all right?”

  He grinned. “Nine will be more than satisfactory. And no playing with toys at home. I want you hot and wet and hungry for me.”

  Oh, lordy. Watch yourself, Liz. Quicksand ahead.

  Chapter Four

  For forty eight hours, Liz argued and debated with herself, immersing herself in work so vigorously that Scotty actually stopped her Friday at noon.

  “Take a break, boss. I don’t know what devil’s riding you, but you’re driving yourself into the ground and us crazy.”

  She jerked her arm out of his grip and went back to brushing the horse she’d just been working. “Maybe y’all just can’t keep up with me,” she ground out.

  “Uh-uh. Stop what you’re doing and look at me. Come on, Liz. Just for a minute.”

  She sighed, dropped the hand with the brush and leaned against the tethered horse. “What?”

  “First of all, I know you won’t agree with me, but I’m as much your friend as your employee. If you’d let me be.”

  She snorted. “Yeah, right. My best bud.”

  “I said look at me. Please.”

  She turned her face and saw such an expression of concern on his face she wanted to cry. Who would have thought Scotty or any of the others would care one whit about her?

  “Good. Now.” He blew out a breath. “What’s got your tail in a twist? You worked fourteen hours yesterday, and you’ve been out here since six this morning. If there’s a problem, I’d like to help with it.”

  Liz almost laughed. This was one problem that none of her employees could do anything about. She’d spent nearly every waking minute, despite working herself to death, convinced her visit to Rawhide had been a mistake. And if she went back, she’d make another one. Alex Wright was related to important clients. Establishing a D/s relationship with him, even if they kept it to the confines of Rawhide, was fraught with every kind of danger.

  “Liz?”

  She blinked and focused on Scotty, who was still waiting for some kind of answer.

  “I’m sorry, Scotty. I’ve just had a little trouble sleeping. I thought extra work would tire me out.”

  He shook his head. “If you say so. Just…try to take it easy, okay?” He walked away, his boots clicking on the concrete.

  Easier said than done. And what do I do tonight? Show up? Not show up?

  She shivered at the memory of the session Wednesday night. She and Alex had made an instant connection, one that was too strong for her to deny. But her last two relationships had ended very badly. If this one blew up it could affect her livelihood.

  Shit, shit, shit.

  Why had she gone in the first place? Damn Katie and Reece for talking her into it. She sighed and went back to work on the horse.

  Just to frost the cake and add to her personal turmoil, she had been in a state of constant arousal since her session with Alex. Every time she remembered being in that room with him, her cunt quivered and cream gushed into her panties. She could have relieved her itch with one of her battery-powered toys, but his words kept echoing in her head and her submissive nature wouldn’t permit her to disobey his final instruction.

  By the time six o’clock rolled around, she was a bundle of nerves, edgy enough that she took herself off to the house. She had enough problems with the staff. She didn’t need to keep taking her attack of nerves out on them.

  She wasn’t the least bit hungry, but she made herself eat a sandwich standing at the sink and swallow a soft drink. Then it was decision time. The real problem was, she actually wanted to go. She’d forgotten how arousing and satisfying D/s play could be. With the right person.

  Liz stared at herself in the bathroom mirror. How was it others found that one right person to share the lifestyle with permanently, but the two times she’d tried had been a disaster? Was she destined for noting more than interludes until she was past the point of being wanted? Desired?

  You’re scared because Alex Wright touched something inside you.

  Damn right I am. People who touch you emotionally have the power to hurt you. Reject you.

  “No!” She smacked her closed fist on the vanity countertop. “Quit overthinking everything, Elizabeth Gillibrand. You wanted a good time. Sexual release. Go and embrace it. And when you see Alex Wright in public, you can just be smoothly polite to him. You know how.”

  Shoving her doubts back into a deep corner of her mind, she stripped off her clothes, turned on the shower, and stepped under the hot spray, letting it wash away the dirt and stress. An hour later, lotioned and perfumed and dressed in her best sub outfit she nervously pressed the bell at Rawhide.

  “Good evening.” The hostess swung the door open to admit her.

  Liz pulled the tiny gold card from her purse that Reece had given her, but the woman waved it away. “Mr. Halliday has put you on the permanent list. Go right in.”

  The permanent list? Well, thanks, Reece, but—

  Stop it! This time will be a different. Just enjoy.

  She smiled. “Thank you.”

  “I believe someone’s waiting in the lounge for you,” the woman said. “On one of the corner love seats.”

  Alex! He was here already. Now she was twice as nervous. What if when he saw her again, he changed his mind? Decided he didn’t want her at all?

  Since when did you let all these insecurities consume you?

  Since—

  “Good evening, Elizabeth.”

  She found herself standing in front of the love seat, Alex rising to take her hand.

  Liz bowed her head automatically. “Good evening, Sir.”

  “Your hand is trembling.” He sat an
d drew her down next to him. “Let’s sit here for a few minutes. Is something bothering you?” He frowned. “Have you changed your mind? It’s all right, you know. Sometimes people just don’t click. Although I thought last time—”

  “You thought right,” she said hastily. “I haven’t changed my mind.”

  “But you’re nervous.” His hand lazily stroked the bare skin of her arm. “Did I do something to cause that?” He frowned. “Did I give you reason not to trust me?”

  “No.” The touch of his hand was soothing, easing her nerves. Her body, tuned again to the role of submissive, began to relax. Her nipples were so sensitive the leather vest felt scratchy against them, and her pussy was already incredibly wet, moisture dampened the inside of her thighs.

  His hand trailed around to the nape of her neck, gently massaging the muscles she knew were tighter than tight. He leaned close to her, his mouth directly at her ear. “Elizabeth, are you afraid of me? Tell me the truth, darlin’, because if you are we need to stop this now.”

  Afraid of him? No, it was herself she was afraid of. Afraid of losing her head and maybe her heart and ending up a mess like the last time. Because Alex Wright definitely struck a chord deep inside her. It was more than the fear of meeting him on different turf and hoping no one would catch any silent messages between them. It was the terrible fear of being cast aside. Again.

  She shook her head. “No. Not afraid.”

  Of you. It’s me. I’m afraid of me.

  “Tell me what it is,” he urged, “or we’ll just have a pleasant drink and that will be the end of it.”

  The end of it? Not have a session together? Now that she was here, that was all she wanted. To be stripped naked and dominated by him. To feel the pleasurable sting of the flogger. Maybe even the short-tailed whip. To have him strip away everything but her basest emotions and drive her to the peak of erotic fulfillment.

  Why am I being such an idiot?

  “Forgive me, Sir,” she whispered. “I’m still…I just haven’t been in the scene for such a long time. Until the other night.”

  “I understand.”

  How could a man have such a warm Texas drawl and still sound so dominant?

  “Well, then. Let’s see if you followed my instructions. That’ll tell me a lot about what happens next.”

  One warm hand slid beneath the hem of her short leather skirt, up the surface of her thigh until he reached her cunt. A slow smile crept over his face.

  “No panties. Good for you. And that sweet little cunt is dripping wet. Just the way I like it.”

  His praise warmed her but not as much as his fingers at her wet folds, just barely brushing her clit. Liz did her best not to react to the charge of electricity that surged through her. Alex licked the edge of her ear as he lightly pinched her clit.

  Liz forced herself to sit still, not to move except on his command. All the anxiety that had plagued her for two days disappeared like smoke. She could focus only on the man who controlled her pleasure for the evening.

  “Let’s see your breasts, Elizabeth.”

  Okay, he was definitely in Dom mode and she felt herself automatically slipping into subspace. His fingers were warm on her flesh as he tugged the zipper of the leather vest down partway. His hand slipped past the fabric to touch and caress her skin, his palm cupping one breast, his thumb rubbing the nipple.

  Liz bit her lip, pleasure heating her body. Did he mean to remove the vest completely out here in the lounge? Many Doms liked to expose their subs to others, like displaying a prized possession. She knew it gave them a sexual charge to know others admired what only they could possess.

  Alex lifted his hand to cup her chin, tilting her face toward him.

  “Look at me, Elizabeth. You’re wondering if I’m going to order you to sit here half naked, right?”

  “Yes, Sir.” She looked directly into his eyes, but they told her nothing, only that he was in control and he wanted her to know it.

  “Would it bother you?”

  Would it? She’d been with other Doms who enjoyed displaying their subs so others could envy them. Only it had been so long…

  “I asked you a question,” he prompted.

  “No, Sir. I am here to please you.”

  A hot smile curved his lips. “You’re right. And it would please me for others to see what a beautiful sub I have.”

  He pulled the zipper down the rest of the way and eased the vest down her arms. She shivered slightly, sitting there naked from the waist up, but not from cold. He was going to tease her, draw this out before they went to a private room. Before she could eventually find releases for the intense orgasm already building inside her.

  “You have gorgeous nipples.” He rolled one between thumb and forefinger then squeezed it hard enough to cause a small bite of pain.

  A couple passing by stopped, examining her with frank curiosity.

  “May I?” the man asked, reaching out a hand.

  Alex smiled but shook his head. “Just for looking. That’s all.”

  “A real pleasure to take a look,” the man drawled.

  Alex nodded, but he slid his arm around her waist, pulling her against him. You’re mine. It was as plain as if he’d shouted it.

  The couple stood in front of them for a long moment, the man’s eyes hard and hungry, the woman with her hand linked through his arm. Then they moved on.

  Alex signaled the waitress and ordered tonic and lime for both of them. Liz sat quietly sipping at her drink, shoulders back the way she knew Alex expected, while he murmured in her ear and caressed her breasts. Every few minutes, he slid his hand beneath her skirt, testing her wetness.

  “You’ve been perfect, sitting here so others can admire my wonderful sub. I’m very proud of you.”

  A thrill danced through her, her cunt throbbing, her nipples hardening even more. It had been a long time since she’d heard those words.

  No. Forget at all. This is here and now. This is Alex, hot and hungry.

  “Are you eager to be fucked tonight?” He pinched the tip of her clit. “I have some special things in store for you.” He nipped her ear lobe. “I can hardly wait.”

  Alex watched Liz carefully as he alternately played with her nipples and stroked her pussy. Her body was humming like a tuning fork, no doubt about it. But he could see all the conflicting emotions at war in her eyes. She wanted to be here—wanted to be with him. He was sure of that or she wouldn’t have come back again. But there was still a nugget of resistance bouncing around inside her.

  Had her last relationship turned bad? Unfortunately, many Doms not only carried punishment to extremes but verbally degraded their subs. Alex always felt they should have a role reversal for one night and see things from the other end of the stick. So to speak.

  He wouldn’t mind wielding that stick himself. When a sub gave trust to a Dom, it was a very special thing. Abusing that trust was the worst kind of betrayal.

  So maybe that was part of her reserve. The other part was connecting with someone she had met who was part of her everyday existence. He’d been shocked the other night, too, at finding her here. Liz Gillibrand had an enviable reputation as a woman with a firm hand on a horse, a student and most definitely her employees. But so often that kind of woman made the best sub. In the bedroom, with a man they could trust, they could give up that control.

  When he’d met her at the Lucky L, the air of sensuality that surrounded her even as she stood there sweaty and dirty made his cock swell painfully in his jeans. But then, to meet her here at Rawhide…

  Hell, since their session the other night, he hadn’t been able to think of anything except her. On his bed. Hands and feet restrained. Her body wide open to everything he wanted to do to her.

  He realized the moment he laid eyes on her tonight that she was conflicted. With any other woman, he would have been friendly and polite and walked away. But he wanted Elizabeth Gillibrand more than he’d ever wanted another female. And not just for a session now
and then at Rawhide. Something deep and elemental clicked between them. He knew in his bones she felt it, too.

  But he would have to inch his way into it. Go very slow. That was okay with him. The prize was worth it.

  Exposing her body like this had been a risk, but it was working. The tension of anxiety in her body was slowly being replaced by that of sexual arousal.

  “You have a gorgeous body,” he said, stroking the length of her spine. “I want people to envy me.”

  She kept her eyes lowered, but a tiny smile played at the corners of her mouth. “Are you always so arrogant, Sir?”

  “My male Texas pride.” He chuckled. “And I’ll overlook that little sign of disrespect because it shows me you’re getting comfortable with me again. But this is the last time. Understood?”

  “Yes, Sir.” The voice was soft, but the ghost of a smile still lingered on her face.

  Impertinent sub. He swallowed his laughter. Tonight he’d make her beg. He’d gotten a sense of her limits the other night. Now he was ready to push them a little. And make her like it.

  “I think we’re ready to leave the crowd now.” He rose and held out his hand to her.

  She took it, standing gracefully. Picking up her vest, he led her out of the main room, down the corridor to the room he’d reserved earlier.

  Chapter Five

  Alex watched Liz take in the huge bed in the center of the room, with its many straps and manacles attached, then the array of discipline items on the wall and finally to the table displaying a variety of toys.

  “You’ll enjoy this,” he said, reassuring her as much as commanding her. “You remember your safeword?”

  “Lullaby.”

  “Good. Real good.” He pulled her toward him, gripped her face, and licked the entire surface of her lips. Very slowly. Her lips were like satin, smooth and warm. He could spend hours just tasting them. He outlined the edges with his tongue before pressing against the closed seam and thrusting inside.

  She opened to him willingly, her own tongue dancing with his. Her flavor was better than any bourbon he’d ever tasted, seeping into his system and flowing straight to his cock. His balls ached and his blood pounded as he tilted her head to give him a better angle.