Shockwave (Impulse Book 1) Read online

He increased the pressure, crisscrossing her torso with his strokes. He caught her clamped nipples, the chain and the weights hanging down. He turned her beautiful bronzed skin delicate pink and he raised tiny welts.

  Her gasps became moans and he smelled the heat of her arousal. Her facial muscles were slack and her lips were parted. Her arms appeared limp and she’d released her grip on the cross.

  A sheen of perspiration glistened under the lights. Her hair hung around her in a riotous invitation.

  She no longer appeared to be aware of anything.

  He’d never known anyone to slip into subspace this quickly.

  His cock was hard and he ached to be buried inside her. She was exquisite in her pain.

  He changed his position so he could finger her pussy while he whipped her. He kept up the intensity even as he stroked her clit.

  She opened her eyes for a second then closed them again, much like someone who’d been disturbed during sleep.

  “You may come,” he said quietly.

  She mumbled something incoherent, but her pelvic muscles constricted. He continued to flog her, and he applied more pressure to her swollen clit.

  Her hips jerked. “Please, please,” she begged. “I need… Want… Master…”

  She’d switched ‘Sir’ for ‘Master’. Nathaniel’s cock had never been harder. As much as he was dominating this woman, she was dominating him. “Beautiful, Alani,” he said, moving his fingers a bit faster over her clit and sliding a finger deep inside her wet pussy.

  He longed to keep her here, begging and compliant.

  By flicking his wrist on each stroke, he increased the flogger’s power.

  She cried out.

  Unlike last night, this wasn’t a scream.

  This was more of a sigh of submissive satisfaction. Her lovely body went rigid. She jerked against him, asking, demanding. She mumbled her gratitude. Then, finally, she clenched around him as she orgasmed.

  He stopped the beating, but he kept his finger deep inside her and continued to work her clitoris, encouraging her to ride the crest as long as she could.

  Finally, long moments later, she sagged against her bonds.

  The audience clapped, and there were a few cheers.

  Suddenly he wanted every person to leave. He wanted to be alone with Alani, wanted to nurture her in private. “You did well,” he told her as he dropped the flogger.

  He cupped the side of her face with one hand, and he was pleased when she turned toward him. He reached behind him for a washcloth. Since she was still lost, he made her transition a slow one.

  Nathaniel dabbed the perspiration from her chest. As he moved lower, her eyes opened. Since they were still glassy, he spoke quietly. “You were perfect, Alani.”

  “Thank you, Sir,” she said, blinking.

  “Ah, you’re back with us.”

  She eased her head into an upright position.

  “I’ll get you out of your bonds,” he told her after tossing the washcloth aside. He trailed his hand to her shoulder, making sure she knew he was here, no matter what she needed. “And the clamps.”

  She winced but didn’t say anything. Now that she’d returned from that place deep inside her mind, he knew she’d be very much aware of how badly her muscles ached, the pain radiating through her breasts, and the lingering effects of his beating. The bliss of the orgasm would help some, but he knew the power of the endorphins was limited.

  Remembering the dozens of people who were watching, he said, “If your partner has reached subspace, you’ll want to bring him or her back a bit at a time, let them orient to reality. If you get them to subspace, you must be more in control than you ever have been. Your sub will not register pain the way they normally do, so it’s incumbent on you to pay close attention and not administer more than they can take. At times your sub will seek more, but it’s your responsibility to ascertain where they are and ensure it’s safe to continue. And you’ll want to watch for subdrop afterward. There will be another class on that, but do some research if you’ll be playing in an advanced way. Suffice it to say, subdrop is real, and it’s disorienting.”

  He noticed the red marks on her chest. Jesus, she was hot. Just how long until they could escape from Limits?

  He decided to remove the clamps first. “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  He slowly moved his hand from her shoulder to cup her breast. She looked at him, her deep brown eyes darkened with desire and trust. Was there a headier combination?

  He imprisoned her breast to keep her still while he released the clover. The moment the flesh was free, he pressed his thumb against it.

  She moaned but she didn’t complain. “Thank you, Sir.”

  The words were forced around a pained grunt. He said to the crowd, “Now that’s a well-trained sub.”

  “Hear, hear!” someone called.

  Nathaniel moved to her other breast and repeated the process. This time her head fell back and she dug her fingers into the cross. She swore beneath her breath. “Thank you, Sir.”

  He motioned to a monitor. “Get me a blanket.”

  Nathaniel unfastened her from the cross in quick movements. As a caring Dom, he helped her to move away, steadying her with his arms around her waist.

  “Please take a well-deserved bow,” he told her, knowing he was pushing her and wondering how obedient she really was. “Tell the audience thank you for watching.”

  She was unsteady on her high-heeled shoes but she did as he instructed. “Thank you all for attending our demonstration.” She did a little curtsy at the unseen attendees.

  As the crowd expressed their appreciation, he draped the blanket around her and led her away from the center of the stage.

  The house lights slowly brightened and the spotlight dimmed. He asked a monitor to gather her clothing and to have Willow store it in Alani’s locker. Around them, the noise level increased as people stood, pushing back their chairs, and started talking.

  “You really did well,” he said against her ear.

  She leaned into him. He doubted the show of vulnerability would last, so he seized it.

  Uncharacteristically, he placed a soft kiss on the top of her head.

  If she’d noticed, she pretended not to.

  With a raised eyebrow, he drew Alani toward the stairs.

  When she appeared a bit tentative, he scooped her into his arms.

  “I can walk, Sir.”

  “I’m sure you can. I’ve decided otherwise.”

  She didn’t snuggle against him, not that he’d expected otherwise. He carried her to the elevator.

  When they reached the first floor, he strode to his temporary office then kicked the door closed behind him. He hooked a chair with his foot. Once he had the chair a couple of feet away from the desk, he sat, still holding on to Alani—his sub.

  It took seconds that dragged into minutes for her breathing to return to normal. “Will you fuck me?”

  “At home, later,” he said.

  “Now. Please. Let me ride you.”

  He was only human. “I can’t take advantage of you. We’re at work.”

  “I know what I’m doing,” she insisted.

  Do I? Braxton had warned him about screwing up. Nathaniel was pretty sure fucking Alani in the business office met that definition.

  “I have to have your cock.”

  “Goddamn it. You’ll get us both fired.”

  “Shut up and fuck me,” she demanded.

  “I want to do this when we have more time and we have a bed.”

  “Don’t send me away.”

  Damned by his own promise. He’d been turned on for the past twenty-four hours, and he couldn’t resist her any longer. “Do you want me to take out the plug?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “It’s small. I just want you in me. Please?”

  He was done for. He stood and placed her on the chair. After he grabbed a condom from his wallet, he kicked off his boots and removed his leather pa
nts then returned to her.

  “Will you let me be on top, Sir?” Tossing aside the blanket, she stood.

  He sat, his cock angling straight up.

  “Sir has a beautiful dick.” She took the condom from him and rolled the latex down his shaft.

  “Get your ass over here.”

  She climbed into his lap to face him then lowered herself over his cock. Jesus, she was hot and tight.

  Her internal muscles clenched him and it was all he could do not to ejaculate.

  She took charge, and for a moment, he let her. He loved the way she set the pace, the way she moved up and down on his rigid dick.

  Alani leaned into him, the way she had after the scene, the way she never would have unless she was vulnerable.

  But a minute or two later, he needed to be in charge again.

  He curved his hands into her buttocks, supporting her as he moved her up and down on him. He controlled his depth and her speed.

  “Sir, I need to come.”

  “You’re my sub,” he said. “Your cunt belongs to me. You are not allowed to touch yourself without permission, and you sure as hell don’t come unless I say so.”

  “Sir!” She shuddered.

  Damn it. He should have jacked off earlier today while he was in the shower. As it was, he was already on the edge. “Come,” he told her.

  She cried out and pulsed around him. Because of the plug in her rear, her pussy was extra tight. She bit his shoulder and pulled his hair. He’d never seen this unrestrained abandon from her. Instead of it annoying him, it thrilled him. Her wild streak—just for him—satisfied as nothing else could.

  After she settled, he lifted her again. “Squeeze me,” he told her.

  She contracted her muscles, drawing the cum out of his cock. He came with a loud grunt, and she took him all the way inside her, rocking her hips to get him deeper.

  The quick, passionate sex had been unexpected and rewarding. Not even a minute later, she pulled away from him. “Thank you for that, Sir. For the scene and for the fuck. I needed it.”

  Reluctantly, he let her go.

  Alani wriggled off his lap and reached for the blanket to wrap herself up again. She brushed her wayward hair back from her face. “May I be excused, Sir? I’d like to make myself presentable and get back to work.”

  He was out of excuses to hold her. “Master Richard requested you again.”

  “I’ll do a good job, I promise.”

  “I asked another sub to fill in tonight.”

  Her mouth parted, even though she didn’t voice a protest.

  “I wanted to be sure you met the retrained standards first.”

  She narrowed her eyes.

  Retraining her had nothing to do with his decision, and they both knew it. “I see, Sir. I’m sure you’ll let me know when you think I’m ready.”

  “Don’t think this gets you off the hook for later, Alani.”

  Chapter Six

  Alani wondered how she would make it through the rest of the night.

  She grabbed a towel and body wash and headed for the showers, shoving her thoughts and emotions deep inside. There’d be time enough to think later, but then again, maybe she’d just try to pretend she was unaffected by Master Nathaniel’s overwhelming dominance.

  If she allowed a single thought of him to sneak into her mind, she’d be consumed. At the coffee shop, when he’d said he wanted her to play with him outside the club, he’d stunned her. She hadn’t even begun to deal with the implications of that before he’d turned her over his knee like a naughty girl and blistered her behind.

  Then there had been the scene. The demonstration with Master Nathaniel had been incredible, searing her mentally as well as physically. Until tonight, she’d never known how much of a lifeline someone’s voice could be—how much she trusted him.

  It was what she’d searched for, wanted, dreamed of.

  The pain had been exquisite. It had been torturous, but she’d achieved subspace, if only for a few moments.

  She wasn’t a needy woman who liked aftercare. She’d learned to be self-reliant and preferred to get back to her real life. The fact that he liked to care for her was unwelcome and uncomfortable. The quick, raw sex had satisfied her, though, and it had kept him from soothing and snuggling.

  Wishing she was in the shower at her apartment, she removed the plug and ran it under the water.

  She stayed beneath the spray until she realized she was stalling. Goosebumps dotted her skin as she turned off the faucet then toweled herself dry before heading back to her locker.

  Alani dressed as if she were donning armor. In a way, that was what she was doing. The strong woman who emerged from the dressing room was capable and confident, different from the one who had entered.

  Thankfully she didn’t see Master Nathaniel again for the rest of the evening, but she knew that wouldn’t last. After all, she’d agreed to go home with him.

  She concentrated on pleasing her customers, being polite, and telling a couple of unattached Doms that yes, she was available as a professional submissive. They’d just need to schedule a time with Willow.

  Once most of the patrons had left, she slipped back into the dressing room to gather her coat and purse.

  The very chicken part of her wanted to slip out of the back door instead of dealing with Master Nathaniel.

  But that wasn’t her.

  After knotting her belt tighter than necessary, she walked toward the foyer.

  Her steps faltered and her heart stopped when she saw him leaning against the wall, one foot propped up. He wore a buttery-soft brown leather jacket that snuggled his body and made him look impossibly rugged. He had changed into jeans and he still wore motorcycle boots and the all-out sexy T-shirt.

  He folded his arms across his broad chest and focused his gaze on her, as if there were no other woman on the planet. “Ready?”

  Oh, God. Was she?

  He pushed away from the wall and moved toward her. “My vehicle is waiting.”

  “I’ve decided to follow you.”

  “Is there a reason?”

  “If I want to leave, I want the freedom to do so.”

  “Understandable. How about if I agree to bring you back any time you ask?”

  “Since we live so close to each other, it doesn’t make sense to come all the way downtown.”

  He nodded. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  In the parking lot, she fished her keys from the cavernous bottom of her purse.

  Nathaniel waited until she was inside the driver’s compartment then he closed the door before walking away.

  She fell in behind him as they threaded their way to I-25. He stayed in the slow lane, and she noticed he often checked the rearview mirror to ensure she was still following. Was he wondering whether or not she’d changed her mind?

  Not that she wasn’t considering it.

  Her sense of self-preservation told her to run hard and fast, lock herself in her apartment, turn off her phone and refuse to deal with him. This man was dangerous. Already he’d given her what she most desired, and if she wasn’t careful, she’d become emotionally entangled. She’d be a fool to proceed with any sort of relationship with Master Nathaniel.

  Unfortunately, she was a fool.

  He exited onto westbound Sixth Avenue, and she stayed behind him.

  As he turned from the main road onto surface streets, she realized how little she knew about him. She’d imagined him living in an urban apartment or condominium, perhaps near Belmar. But this area had older homes on large lots with a number of trees, and at least one of his neighbors’ yards had a horse. “Your neighbors have horses?” she asked when she’d parked behind him in the driveway and exited the vehicle.

  “Some have chickens. At least one person raises honeybees.”

  She reached across the front seat to grab her purse and a small overnight bag.

  “I’ll take those for you.”

  After handing them over, she closed
the door.

  With his remote key fob, he locked his vehicle. “We’ll go in the back door.”

  She preceded him, and a motion sensor light kicked on, illuminating the path. She stopped near a chain link gate.

  Once they were in the backyard, he said, “Lift your coat and your skirt and hold them up. I want your ass exposed.”

  The request startled her and she glanced around. A huge hedge separated them from the house on the right, and the one on the left couldn’t be seen because of the house. And his home was set back from the road. With the vehicles parked in the driveway, there was no way she would be seen. Alani should have guessed he wouldn’t put her at risk.

  She bared her bottom to him and walked up the narrow path that was lit by numerous solar lights.

  The night air caressed her skin, raising goosebumps.

  At the end of the path, she climbed the three steps that led to his deck, and she exaggerated the sway of her hips. She might pay for the sass later, but it was fun right now.

  “Kneel while I open the door.”

  Was his voice tighter than normal? Or was she imagining her effect on him? She lowered herself to the welcome mat. He reached over her with his keys.

  It seemed to take him forever to unlock the door, open it then flick on an interior light.

  By coming in through the back door, they were entering the home through the kitchen.

  “Crawl,” he told her. “When you reach the middle of the floor, kneel up and remove your coat.”

  Earlier, at the club, she’d wondered how they would make the transition from work to home. She shouldn’t have worried. This man’s ability to dominate was an ingrained part of his personality. It wasn’t an act, she realized. He had no difficulty moving back and forth and, she suspected, this came easier for him.

  He stood there, watching her.

  Her face heated with embarrassment. She told herself this was completely natural, but the way he watched her made her hyperaware of her every move.

  She crawled over the threshold. Now that she was here, totally alone with him, her normal bravado fled. She was aware of being more than just a masochist. At this moment he was forcing her to be a submissive—his sub.

  He followed her and closed them in, turning a deadbolt in finality.