Bonds of Trust Read online

  “Oh, Allie.” Cali jumped at the intrusion. “You’ve met Jake and Deklan?” Her hands trembled briefly as she tucked a piece of hair behind her ear before she quickly clasped them once again.

  “Can you believe Deklan was too shy to come out and meet us this whole time?” Allie rubbed a hand over the man’s bicep in a gesture that was an apparent attempt at comfort but came across as blatant flirting.

  Dek rolled his eyes and stepped away from the touch. Contact was not in the man’s comfort zone.

  Allie laughed, evidently not hurt or deterred by Dek’s actions. “So, what do you men do for a living?”

  The question was a basic conversational topic under the circumstances, but it was the one Jake always wanted to avoid. Dek raised an eyebrow and shot him a look that clearly said he wasn’t answering.

  Cali had stilled instantly at the question. Her lips were clamped between her teeth as she waited. Jake took quick note of the honest fear flashing in her eyes. Did she really think he’d out her? Here?

  He took a drink of his beer, not tasting the liquid at all. He processed his newest revelation and buried the anger that rose at the thought that Cali trusted him so little. After the night they’d shared, all the work he’d done to build up her trust in him, she truly feared he’d tell everyone about that night. What the hell?

  Jake gave Allie a stiff smile. “Dek and I are partners in a private business.”

  “Oh? What kind of business?”

  “A private one,” Jake responded flatly, the hard edge indicating the conversation was closed.

  Allie lifted her eyebrows and glanced at Cali. “Okay.” She took a drink of her wine and Jake watched her brow furrow behind the glass as she gave Dek a sidelong perusal. Clearly, she did not intend to let the subject drop forever.

  Thankfully, or not, Edith arrived at that moment to drag them over to meet some more people. Like they hadn’t been paraded around enough already. “You have to meet Lacey and Paul,” she chattered. “This is their engagement party, after all. They are such a lovely, young couple. So in love. Have you ever been in love, Deklan?”

  The man in question choked on his beer. Jake helped him out, giving a few hard swats to the Dek’s back that earned him yet another death glare.

  Jake positioned himself so he could continue to watch Cali. She’d turned away from them and pretended to listen to the nosy brunette. She gave an absent nod, but her eyes kept straying his way. Quick, circumspect glances that showed where her attention really was.

  On him.

  Right where he wanted it. He didn’t question why that please him so much. Not now. Not when one night with Ms. Reynolds was far from enough. No, he wouldn’t let her run again.

  Excusing himself from the current conversation, Jake followed Cali as she moved to the buffet table and began consolidating food and cleaning away empty dishes. He brushed against her, an innocent glide of his arm along her back as he passed by on the way to the garbage can. She stilled for a second before continuing at her task.

  Oh yes, the attraction was there. But then, he’d known that. The contact was a reminder to Cali.

  He dropped his empty bottle into the recycle bin and turned to her. “Do you need some help?”

  “No, thank you.” She kept her voice polite and her head down. “Please, go and enjoy yourself.”

  “What if I’m not enjoying myself?”

  She stopped and closed her eyes before straightening to look at him. Her smile was stiff, her eyes shuttered. “Then maybe you should leave.”

  Jake leaned over, grabbed a stack of piled trash and spoke low. “Like you did on Friday?”

  She winced and gave a quick scan around. “Don’t,” she said sharply. “This is my life. Please—” Her lips thinned and she appeared to struggle with the next words. “Please don’t mess with it.”

  He tossed the trash in the garbage before giving her his full attention. “I have no intention of messing with your life.” He shoved his hands in his pockets to keep them from reaching out to her. To comfort her—a foreign thought in itself. “I only want to give you what you need.”

  Her eyes searched his face, her tongue sweeping out to wet her lips. “I don’t need anything from you.”

  Jake let his grin show. She really was an awful liar.

  Cali looked around again then shoved past him to another table and efficiently collected empty plates and cups. Her hands stilled when he added a dirty napkin to her pile. “Why are you here? Are you following me?”

  He chuckled. “No. I’m not following you. Deklan really does live here. He’s the third business partner in the club. The only one you hadn’t met. I was visiting when the lovely Edith insisted we join this little soiree.” He grabbed half of the collected trash and followed her over to the garbage, tossing his pile into the bin. “Are you running from me?”

  “W-what?” she stammered as she grabbed a clean napkin and wiped off her hands. “Why would I do that?”

  “Why indeed?” he answered, managing to inflect question and not the rising frustration he was feeling. “I’ll see you next weekend. Right, Cali?”

  Her eyes widened, the shock and desire displayed before the doubt and recriminations pushed them out.

  He stepped closer and pitched his voice low. Intimate. “No shame. You promised.”

  She closed her eyes and shook her head. But she didn’t back away.

  “Look at me.”

  She complied immediately. Beautiful.

  “When you come back, ask for me.” He had her full attention and she didn’t reject his assumption. “I’ll ensure you get what you want. Just like last time.” He turned and took a step away. “And Cali.” He waited until she met his gaze. “I know you want it.”

  Her eyelids dropped in lust, or anger—he wasn’t certain, but he didn’t wait to find out. He strode across the courtyard to Deklan’s condo. There was no need to make polite small talk anymore. He’d achieved his goal, for better or worse.

  Cali Reynolds would once again be his.

  Chapter Eleven

  She was crazy. Absolutely certifiable. She had to be, since she was waiting there. Again. What was she thinking, coming back to The Den?

  Two weeks of bitter internal debate and more than a few pro and con lists later—ones where the cons heavily outweighed the pros—she found herself back where her body wanted to be, even if her mind said she shouldn’t.

  It was a clear case of desire trumping logic.

  No excuses.

  She simply couldn’t stop thinking about the way Jake had made her feel. Of how much she wanted to feel that again. With him.

  The music thumped hard and loud through the large main room. People were crammed into every corner, her small space next to the bar a coveted spot she’d scored only because the bouncer had escorted her there and told her to stay.

  “Can I get you something, sweetheart?”

  Cali turned to the bartender and gave a polite smile. “Just water, please.” She was afraid she’d immediately slam anything stronger, and liquor was something she didn’t need. Wanted, but didn’t need right now.

  She thanked him when he set the glass on the bar then shifted her attention back to the room. She smoothed her hand down the side of her short dress, resisting the urge to give the hem a tug. Even in her sexiest, most revealing outfit, she felt seriously overdressed. And this was the room where nudity wasn’t allowed.

  “You came.”

  The statement was purred into her ear a half second before his warmth melted into her back. His arm moved possessively around her stomach and pulled her tight to his length. All of the stiffness and doubt drained from her as she relaxed within his strength. “Yes.”

  Jake.

  She knew it instinctively without turning to see him. His voice—low and commanding. His touch—strong and confident. His scent—clean and masculine. They were all programmed into her system. She didn’t try to mask her reaction. She was too committed now to act coy or disint
erested.

  The courtyard incident had shown her just how much she had to lose. Her being here was anything but a game. She definitely wasn’t going to pretend otherwise.

  “Are we playing tonight, Cali?”

  She swayed against him in time to the music, her ass rubbing his hardening erection. “Yes.”

  Instantly she was flipped around, her front crushed against the solid wall of man who held her. She gasped in surprise before his fingers found her nipple and squeezed. Hard. This time she gasped in shock, her reflexes jerking her away from him, but his other arm held her tightly in place.

  “I lead.” His steel eyes met hers. “Agreed?”

  She stopped resisting as the pain shooting from her nipple morphed into an ache for more. “Yes, Jake.” God, yes. A small part of her railed against that answer. The part of her that was used to controlling everything. Of having to control everything. Women were supposed to want independence, not submission.

  But Cali wanted more than anything to submit once again to this man. Master Jake.

  “Come with me,” he said as he released her nipple. The blood rushed into the abused tip, making it throb, causing the other nipple to feel neglected. “Tonight you belong to me.”

  And that was exactly what she both wanted and feared.

  * * *

  Jake didn’t mess with warm-ups tonight. He led Cali straight to the third-floor room he’d had on permanent reserve for the last two weeks.

  The door to the private room had barely closed behind him before he had her pressed to it, his mouth crushing hers. She tasted so good, a flavor he now craved after years of denial. Her hands gripped his shoulders, her mouth opening wider as her tongue engaged his. He pushed his fingers through the curls of her hair and held her head still.

  She moaned, turning soft and compliant against him. He yanked his lips from hers and stepped back while he still could. He took her hand and hauled her to the center of the room. Her small gasp let him know she’d examined the space.

  She hesitated, her steps faltering slightly.

  He faced her. “Rules, Cali.”

  Her bottom lip was tucked between her teeth, but she nodded.

  “Safe words. Tell them to me.”

  She swallowed. “Red—stop, yellow—wait, green—go.”

  “You’ll use them if needed.”

  “Yes,” she whispered and looked down. Her hand flexed in his, the small twitch another giveaway to the nerves she tried to hide.

  The two weeks he’d waited had only increased his longing to have her. Add to that the repeated digs both Seth and Deklan were giving him over his decision to leave, and his frustration was like a tangible, unreachable itch under his skin. It was like Cali had known the perfect way to get to him.

  And no one got to him.

  Tonight she would get what she wanted. His way.

  Anticipation flooded his system, but he pulled it back. Banked it behind the hardened wall that gave him distance. The Dom had to be in full control tonight.

  “Remove your clothes, Cali. And place them on the desk.” He pointed to a small bureau positioned next to the door before he stepped back, crossed his arms and waited.

  She scanned the room and he watched her eyes track to the spanking bench on the right, the cross against the far wall, the swing hanging from the ceiling, then over to the open doors of the armoire displaying the array of whips, paddles, floggers and other equipment. Her cheeks paled then flushed. And still, she’d not moved to follow his order.

  “I think—” she started.

  He stepped forward and cupped the back of her neck, cutting off her words. He held her gaze, the green depths dark and frantic with need-laced fear. “Trust me. You did before.”

  His breath stuck in his chest as the feelings flowed across her face. A quick shuffle of emotions he would have missed if his attention was not glued to her. He let his thumb caress the soft skin of her cheek and she pushed against his palm, seeking more.

  “Yes, Jake,” she finally said. “I trust you.”

  He exhaled, the relief an unexpected sensation. “Good.” He stepped back. “Now, your clothes, Cali. And no more hesitations.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Cali stared at the floor, the polished gleam of the hardwood highlighting the intricate patterns made by the grain. Nature’s art displayed at her feet.

  The stupidity of her thoughts forced a smile across her lips. She really was losing it. The entire scenario had her feeling disjointed. As if the normal part of her, the part that was her for most of her life, was suddenly gone. In her place was this woman standing before a Dom in a BDSM club, waiting to get spanked or whipped or whatever this virtual stranger wanted to do to her.

  And both her body and her mind ached for it.

  Yes, the frank display of equipment initially startled her. There wasn’t a bed in this room. Not even a couch. And that made it real. This Scene was going to be very different from last time. She might be a little naïve, but she wasn’t stupid. He was out to prove something, only she wasn’t exactly sure what that was.

  Yet, she still wanted it. Wanted Jake to lead her.

  Control her.

  Taking a deep breath, Cali raised her arms and pulled down the side zipper on her dress. The material loosened before she caught it and slid the dress down her legs. She resisted the urge to hide behind the garment as she folded it then moved to set it on the dresser he’d indicated. The dress hadn’t allowed for a bra, so all that remained were her skimpy lace underwear and heels.

  She peered at him over her shoulder. “Everything?”

  “Everything.”

  Taking another fortifying breath, she slipped out of her shoes and slid her panties off. She willed herself not to blush. After all, he’d seen everything before. But this felt so much more exposed. She was clearly the vulnerable one here.

  Exhaling, she pulled her shoulders back and moved to stand before him. Keeping her eyes on him, she slowly lowered herself to her knees and clasped her hands behind her back before she let her gaze fall to the floor.

  His inhalation echoed through the room and made her flush with warmth. She hid her smile of pleasure behind the fall of her hair. If he thought he could throw her off by playing the hard-core Dom role, then she could reciprocate. She hadn’t spent hours researching this topic for nothing.

  She might be the submissive, but she still had power. Pleasing him gave her that.

  His fingers trailed through her hair as he moved around to stand behind her and straddle her legs. “That is beautiful, Cali.”

  The caress of her name matched the subtle stroke of his finger along her jaw line, a line of heat following the touch and melting through her. Her breathing deepened and she fixated on that. On each breath as it pushed air through her lungs.

  His deep voice was pitched low and washed over her from his position above and behind her, forcing her to focus on his words. “You will do exactly as I say tonight. No speaking unless I ask a direct question. Your orgasms are mine. You will not come unless I say you can.” His hand fisted in her hair, yanking her head back.

  A startled gasp escaped as she stared up at him.

  “Do you understand?”

  His features were cut and hard on his face. His neck muscles stood out in tension as he waited for her answer. It was the reverence and passion she saw in his eyes that enabled her to answer.

  “Yes, sir.” The soft reply was barely over a whisper but seemed to rock the otherwise quiet room.

  She caught the slight flare of his nostrils before he released her hair and stepped away. She let her head drop forward as she held her breath and tried to slow her racing heart. His boots thumped across the wood to the armoire. She closed her eyes and focus inward, but he was back before she could catalogue her thoughts.

  “Stand.”

  She responded, rising swiftly if not smoothly to her feet before she even realized what she was doing. His pleased smile stifled her mental objection and warme
d her.

  “This way,” he said, pivoting to stride to the spanking bench. “You responded to the sight of this last time. Tonight, we’ll see how you respond to the act.”

  Cali swallowed, her throat seemingly starved for moisture. Unable to rub her damp palms against the material of her dress, she kept them clenched behind her and walked to the bench. The piece of equipment was mounted on a platform that raised it about three feet off the ground. It took only a quick calculation to realize the added height provided better access. For the Dom.

  The understanding brought another flush of arousal. She bit her lip to hold back the sound that wanted to escape. He couldn’t see that her stomach was tied in knots or that her heart thundered in her chest. No, she wouldn’t let him know exactly how terrified and excited she was.

  But he could see her tight, pointed nipples. He stepped close and rubbed his palms over the aching nubs. He bent and sucked first one then the other into his hot mouth—a quick, teasing action that made her legs weak and her nipples impossibly hard.

  “I’ll take care of these soon,” Jake said, stepping back and positioning her until she was kneeling on the thick pad of the bench. “Lay forward and grab the handles below.”

  This was it. Her mind tried to rebel one last time before she stretched out on the thin padded bench extended before her. Jake adjusted her, spreading her legs, scooting her bottom back until her ass hung off the end and she felt completely exposed. He strapped the padded cuffs attached to the bars around her wrists and ankles, trapping her to the bench.

  Locking her in place—for him.

  Her legs quivered, a quick flash of heated desire that shocked her with its intensity from something so simple. Did that make her a freak? She turned her head to the side and tried to quiet her nerves, to focus on how the leather bench was cool and smooth against her front. And how the soft fur lining of the cuffs felt too kind for their purpose.

  “One more thing, Cali,” Jake said, kneeling beside her. He smoothed her hair away from her face so she could see. In his hand was a set of nipple clamps attached with a chain like she’d seen on the woman on the St. Andrew’s Cross.