Nailed Page 5

  The blows ceased and again Tyler skimmed his hands over her flesh, following with a trail of light kisses.

  Please fuck me!

  Even as detached as she was, the thought ran through her mind over and over again.

  As if he could read her mind Tyler placed one final kiss on her ass. Flame heard the crinkle of a condom being unwrapped and seconds later the head of his cock prodded at her opening. God, she really wanted to squeeze her thighs together, to clench herself around him, but the spreader was doing its work.

  His hands were warm on her hips, his fingers strong as he gripped her.

  “Wide open, this time, Flame. Every bit of that delicious cunt exposed.”

  He drove into her with one swift thrust, filling her completely. Every nerve fired, every muscle contracted. Desire spiraled through her and she focused only on one thing—fulfillment.

  Tyler pounded into her, riding her with as much force as he’d wielded the instruments of punishment. Pain was overridden by the need for release but even that he seemed determined to deny her. Before he could command her to come, his body stiffened and his cock pulsed inside her as he poured himself into the latex.

  Her tears now were of frustration, of a need so great she didn’t know what to do with it. Surely he wouldn’t leave her like this. None of the subs she’d spoken with had alluded to this at all. Instead they all said Tyler was a Dom focused on giving his sub as much satisfaction as himself.

  Then what was happening here?

  She had lost all control of herself in a more complete manner than she had for a long time. It frightened her, not because she feared for her body but for her inner soul. She’d promised herself never to go this far over the edge again yet here she was, wondering if all those women had lied. If Marco had made a mistake in approving her scene with Tyler.

  But then he touched her, releasing her wrists and removing the spreader. With a gentleness she hadn’t expected he lifted her from the ottoman. The next thing she knew she was placed on her back on leather, arms and legs straightened. The bench. She could tell by the butter-soft feel of the material.

  Unexpectedly Tyler pressed his mouth to hers, his tongue tracing the seam of her lips. The touch shocked her. She never kissed in any of her scenes. Most Doms agreed that it was too personal. So why had Tyler done this?

  Suddenly his mouth was gone and something hard and smooth slid into her pussy.

  “Now I’m going to let you come,” he murmured in her ear. “And I’m going to watch you. Don’t move your arms or legs. Understood?”

  “Yes, Master.” She could barely get the words out, hanging as she was on the edge of release.

  He turned on the vibrator and as soon as it began its hum, rasped his thumb over her clit. She was aroused to such a point that the moment he touched her the climax began unwinding inside her, rushing through her with whirlwind force. Mere seconds passed before she convulsed, spasms rocking her body, shaking her. She clenched the muscles of her cunt around the vibrator and rocked as much as she could. In the darkness of the blindfold everything was intensified. The orgasm gripped her hard. By the time it began to ease, she was gasping for breath and her heart nearly thudded out of her body.

  Flame had no idea how much time passed before her body quieted. She’d needed all her internal control to bridge the space between reality and subspace. She hadn’t bothered to tell Tyler how much pain turned her on or how easily she slid into subspace during a punishment session. That was dangerous, she knew, but she hadn’t anticipated the instantaneous connection between them and how it would affect her. The abbreviated session the other night hadn’t done more than scratch the surface for either of them.

  Next time. Yes, next time she’d speak to him about it first. Or have Marco tell him and designate it as a subject off limits for discussion. That way if he turned out to be like him,Marco would sense it and either cancel the session or monitor it. Meanwhile she consciously evened out her breathing and centered herself.

  Tyler slid the vibrator from her and again smoothed his hand over her body. He gently squeezed each breast, brushed a finger over each sensitive hardened nipple, cupped her pussy and dipped a finger inside for one moment.

  He surprised her again by brushing his lips over hers before unfastening the blindfold. When she opened her eyes he was smiling at her but concern was etched on his face.

  “Just lie here a moment. Take slow, deep breaths. Let yourself come back to reality. And don’t rush it.”

  She did as he told her, her head taking the journey back from subspace until she was acutely aware of the reality of where she was and the man standing next to her. The man who aroused her just by standing next to her. And who made her feel things she didn’t want to feel.

  “Why didn’t you use your safe word?” he demanded, although he kept his voice low and his tone even. “Or tell me you were a pain junkie? We didn’t even discuss subspace or how you handle it.” His face sobered. “We didn’t discuss a lot of things and that’s not my style.”

  She shook her head. “I guess we were both just…anxious.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a smile. “Or eager. I’ll admit I got caught up in the pleasure. Next time we get all the nuts and bolts out of the way first. Taking a sub too far over the top is not my style.”

  Flame’s heart did a tiny somersault of happiness. “All right.”

  “Flame?”

  “Yes, Master?”

  “Tonight was about a lot more than sex. You know that.”

  Her stomach knotted. No. It couldn’t be more. How could she trust again?

  “I don’t think—”

  “Right.” He touched a finger to her lips. “Don’t think. Except about the connection we’ve made and what it could mean.” He caressed her eyelids through the mask. “I think that’s enough play for tonight. Let’s get to your aftercare. You’ve earned it.”

  For which she was eternally grateful. As it was she’d be walking stiffly and sitting gingerly when she went to work the next day.

  Tyler searched in one of the drawers until he found what he wanted before returning to the bench.

  “Close your eyes and concentrate on relaxing.” His voice was low and soothing. “I wish you’d let me remove your mask.”

  “No.” She nearly shouted the word, her hands curling into fists. Would he be angry with her now? Real anger? Had she ruined everything?

  “Ssh. It’s all right. But when you take it off be sure to use medicated wipes on your cheeks.”

  For the next several minutes, he tended to her body, first using soft wipes everywhere then applying something thick and cooling to her skin. He turned her over as if she weighed nothing and spent a great deal of time applying the substance to her very sore ass and thighs. The more he used, the more the stinging faded. Oh, she’d be sore tomorrow. No doubt about it. But Tyler was doing his best to ease the aftereffects.

  When he was finished, he turned her over onto her back again and helped her sit up.

  “When you get home,” he told her, “be sure to draw a hot bath. Do you have the special salts to put in the water?”

  She nodded, staring up at him. “I’m all set.” She let out a sigh. “I like my Doms to leave the room first.”

  He quirked an eyebrow. “Any special reason?”

  She shrugged. “Flame’s Rules.”

  He cupped her chin, his hand gentle. “We have a lot to discuss, you and I.”

  “I think…I think it would work best if you called Marco to set it up next time.”

  Because I lose my mind where you’re concerned and forget everything I need to remember.

  His face sobered and his gaze locked with hers for a long minute.

  “Fine,” he said at last. “Tell him to expect a call from me shortly.”

  They were both silent while he dressed, as if they’d said all that needed saying for the night. He paused at the door, his hand on the knob.

  “Soon, Flame. Very soon.”
<
br />   Then he was gone.

  She collapsed back on the table. She’d be paying for this session for days to come but that was nothing compared to the tumble her emotions were in. She’d embraced the pain he’d given her, so high on it she’d taken a while coming down. That hadn’t happened for a long time and it frightened her that she’d found a Dom who could take her there again.

  She knew she’d give in to almost anything he wanted to do with and to her and that could become a problem. She’d taken that trip once before with disastrous results. Tyler might be a different breed of man but maybe her judgment was flawed. She felt things for him she didn’t want to feel ever again.

  What in hell was she going to do?

  Chapter Five

  Tyler pulled into his parking space in the underground garage, climbed out and locked his truck. He checked his watch. Seven thirty. He doubted if either of his brothers would be in yet but he had notes to go over before he talked to them. He had some good candidates to discuss for the permanent supervisor positions. His briefcase also held construction notes on the Wyoming project that required input from Josh as far as design was concerned and Alex regarding adjusting cost projections. They’d built in some wiggle room on the budget but they had a long way to go and he didn’t want to tap into it if he could avoid it.

  He pushed the button for the elevator. Whistling tunelessly as he waited for the thunk indicating it had reached underground level. Scenes from the night before began running through his head, just as they had from the time he’d arrived home. He liked to think he connected with his subs, that he was a good Dom and they all felt a little something for each other. But the very, very hot Flame had seared herself into his brain, as well as other parts of his body.

  He couldn’t believe how fast this had hit him. It wasn’t just her sexuality or her complete obedience that lingered in his brain. For one thing, she’d actually arrived once on a weeknight, which had to mean she hoped he’d show up. Right? He hadn’t called Marco specifically to set something up because he wasn’t actually sure until he saw her that she was the reason he was there. He didn’t like to think a woman had that much power over him.

  Since then he’d been with her several more times, each time more intense both sexually and emotionally. He couldn’t push his return to Wyoming back much longer. He had a good crew working the site but some things needed his personal attention, especially with so much on the line.

  It stunned him to realize how deeply she had invaded his blood. His system. His emotions, for god’s sake. He wanted to strip her down to the bare essentials and learn what really made her tick, both as a woman and a sub. To see how far he could push her. But the second night he’d missed all the warning signals until almost the end of the session. He’d been so absorbed in what he was doing he hadn’t realized Flame was a pain junkie and had floated into subspace. The sight of her reddened ass and thighs, the crisscross of stripes, had so inflamed him he’d almost forgotten his responsibility as a Dom. If he hadn’t caught the edge of what was happening with her he might have done her real harm.

  Who were the Doms she’d been with who had driven her to that state? Or had she always been that way and a series of Doms had merely brought it all out? After that he was careful to look for the signals. The signs. To back off when he needed to. It was clear to him that this whole thing with Flame was different than anything he’d had with any other woman.

  Next time they were together he would question her. Insist on answers. But he had a funny feeling that simple answers wouldn’t tell him what he wanted to know. There was something very deep there. He was teetering on the edge of a level of personal involvement he’d made a habit of shying away from. Only suddenly it didn’t frighten him. He wanted to see her outside the walls of Finesse. To learn about her as a person, not just as Flame. He’d tried to bring it up the last couple of times and she’d shut him down. Well, not any more.

  As he pushed the button for the elevator again, behind him he heard the tap tap tap of heels on the concrete and turned to see who else was coming to work with the chickens. Jack Shelton’s coworker, Jenyfer Something-or-other, was walking stiffly toward the elevator, slim briefcase in one hand, cell phone clapped to her ear with the other. She was obviously engrossed in her conversation because she was only about three feet from Tyler when she looked up and spotted him. She stopped dead in her tracks, her eyes behind her glasses widening.

  She said something into her cell and turned to head back the way she’d come, walking faster this time but just as stiffly. Tyler stared after her. What was with this woman, anyway? This had happened a couple of times over the past weeks and it puzzled him. He didn’t think in their limited contact he’d done anything to make her shy away from him. They hadn’t even exchanged a word, for god’s sake. Jack had said she didn’t participate in client meetings. Maybe she was afraid of men. If so, what had made her that way? And was that how she acted with the men in her office?

  Maybe she really did have a stick up her ass.

  And why did he even care? She was a polar opposite of the women he spent time with. He should just put her out of his mind and get on with his work. God only knew he had plenty of it. But it was like an itch in a place you couldn’t scratch. He just couldn’t leave it alone. If he had time maybe he’d give Shelton a call or drop by his office and casually ask him about her.

  Wait. Jack had told him his boss was interested in the McMann Development account and Tyler had passed that along to Alex and Josh. The suggestion had kind of taken a back seat, as immersed as they were in everything else. Maybe he could nudge them to at least take a meeting on it. That would give him an excuse to stop by Shelton’s office and work Jenyfer Whatever-her-name-is into the conversation. Whistling again he stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button for his floor.

  He was on his third cup of coffee, still working on his notes, when he heard activity in the reception area and Leah, their new receptionist, stuck her head in his door.

  “You’re in early,” she commented. “Can I get you some fresh coffee?”

  Leah had been with them two months, hired when the sudden abundance of phone calls and general office work had overloaded Janice, who served as Josh and Alex’s secretary. Tyler did his own computer work and let one of the women pick up his messages, but the increased workload had made that too burdensome. Leah was young, bright and so excited to be working for them. Fresh out of community college, she had aspirations of some role in business management. The McMann brothers gave her enough work besides answering the phone to give her a taste of it and a chance to hone her skills. Plus her smile and enthusiasm warmed even the most irritated visitors.

  “I probably shouldn’t,” he told her, “but yeah, I’ll have another cup. Thanks.”

  “Sure thing, Mr. McMann.”

  He grinned at her. “Tyler, remember? If you say Mr. McMann no one will know who you’re speaking to.”

  “Yes sir. Sorry.” A faint blush crept up her cheeks. “I’ll do my best to remember.”

  Are they making them younger or am I just getting old?

  Tyler pushed the annoying thought away and finished reviewing his final notes. Then he punched the intercom button for Alex.

  “Got a few minutes?” he asked when his brother answered.

  “Sure. Shall I get Josh, too?”

  “Yeah. I’ve got some prospects to discuss and another idea I want to revisit.”

  “Okay. I’ll buzz him.”

  Both of his brothers still carried that honeymoon look about them, even though Josh had been married for a year and Alex for several months. Marriage-shy for most of his adult life, Tyler wondered exactly what it was they found so fascinating about some woman that they were willing to spend the rest of their lives with her. He’d ask them except then they’d want to know why and that was a can of worms he wasn’t ready to open yet.

  “I’ve got two guys I believe would be good permanent hires for supervisors,” he told them. �
�They can handle the responsibility and work out any problems with me via a phone call. They’re good decision makers and when I’m here between Wyoming trips I wouldn’t need to spend every day going over job sites. A short visit will do it.”

  He looked at the notes on the yellow pad he was holding. He’d researched and talked to these men in great depth. One was already on the payroll overseeing one of the jobs they had going. But Tyler had worked with both of them before and everything he’d learned about them had verified his gut feeling. He gave his brothers a rundown.

  “If you think they’re good, then let’s put them on,” Alex said. Then, ever the moneyman he asked, “Did you discuss salary with either of them?”

  Tyler nodded. “About midrange in the limits we discussed. Enough to make them happy with some wiggle room for bonuses or incentives.”

  Josh nodded. “Okay. I’d like to meet with each of them since I’ll be working with them more than Alex. I’d like them to understand what I expect, too.”

  “No problem. Let me call them and see what’s good. If it works out okay, I can have them fill out their insurance and payroll forms and get them on board.”

  “What about the supervisors on the job now?” Alex wanted to know. “Will there be any bad feelings?”

  Tyler shook his head. “Two of them function best when they know I’m looking over their shoulders, even if it is from miles away. The third one is one of the guys I’m bringing in. And the other one I’ve worked with before, so we’re good.”

  “Okay, then.” Josh took a swallow from his coffee mug. “Now that we’ve got business out of the way, where did you disappear to last night?”

  Tyler frowned at him. “Disappear? Why? What’s up?”