Bondage Included (14 page)

“Yes, Sir,” she answered sarcastically.

“I see you’re going to be over my knee on a frequent basis.”

“Probably,” she agreed without any qualms. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up and I’ll get dinner on the table?”

“If you need help with something, ask.” Once she nodded in agreement, he headed back down to the basement. He organized the ropes, sanitized the mat and wand. As he was putting everything away, he looked around the room. He’d been leery about bringing Adriana down here. Now, he realized that had been a mistake. Adriana was like a breath of fresh air. Just the short time she’d been in this room, she’d already brushed away the stagnant feeling.

He took the stairs two at a time. Stopping at the hall restroom, he washed his hands then hurried into the dining room. Adriana had lit candles and turned the lights down. His girl was a romantic. Perfect!

She was waiting at the table fidgeting with her napkin and biting her lip.

“Did I keep you waiting?”

“No. Perfect timing.” She looked down at her hands then back at him. “Aren’t the subs supposed to clean up after a scene?”

“There aren’t any hard and fast rules with D/s.” He shrugged. “Besides, I’m a control freak. I’m the only one that stores my ropes and as far as the cleaning goes, I prefer to do that as well.”

She nodded and turned away from him.

“Adriana, what is it?” His stomach twisted, seeing the sad expression cross her face.

Adriana met his gaze then quickly looked away. “I just worry that you’re having to make concessions because of my leg or…” She closed her eyes and fell silent.

He took her hand in his. “Or what?” he asked gently.

Adriana sighed and looked everywhere but at him. “Because I lack the experience of your other subs.”

This wasn’t the first time she’d made comments about his ‘other subs’. “Have I done something that makes you think I’m comparing you to other women?”

“No.”

“I’m glad, because the only person thinking about other women is you. If I’m doing something to give you a different impression, tell me and I’ll stop.” He needed to alleviate her fears without giving her false hope.
What an impossible line to walk.

“I just worry that I’m not making you happy, that I’m short changing you.” Tears were in her eyes and she rarely did more than glance in his direction.

“No. Stop this.” He wiped away a stray tear. “You, my dear, are perfect, too much so to be with the likes of me. You’re the ‘take home to meet Momma’ kind of girl.” This was the crux of the problem between them. “But I don’t have a momma to introduce you to. If we passed on the street, she wouldn’t even acknowledge me and that’s okay, because I’m not the family type. You, on the other hand, love your family. They mean the world to you.” He shook his head. “I can’t be a part of that world. So if anyone is being ‘short changed’ it’s you. Ultimately, I can’t be what you need. Not the other way around.”

“André, damn it, you’re exactly what I need.” She sounded tired and frustrated.

Fuck!
He’d jumped from a minefield straight into hell. “Bebe, all I can offer you is a safe environment to explore your sexuality. I care about you. Deeply. But it can’t go further than friends with benefits. I won’t be taking you to family barbecues or to Sunday dinner at your parents’ house. You have to understand that.”

She was silent for a few moments then lifted her arms like she was pushing some invisible force away. He loved how animated she was. “I forgot our drinks. Could you get them for us?”

“Sure.” He went to the kitchen and poured sodas for both of them. She was still taking meds and though she’d probably prefer wine, that wasn’t happening either.

She took the glass with a simple “Thank you.”

“Should I worry that you poisoned my food while I was out of the room?” He was hoping to lighten the mood.

She snorted. “No, you’re a stubborn ass, but I don’t want you dead. Maybe a bellyache, but not dead.”

“I’m so glad. But a bellyache might cut into my plans this evening.” He took a bite and it melted in his mouth. “Oh my, this is good. Really good.” He took another.

A smile touched her lips, but didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m glad you like it. I didn’t realize you were going out tonight.” She kept her focus on her plate and began eating.

“Bebe, I have no intention of leaving you here alone. I’ve told you that. My plans center on you and me spending some quality time in the bedroom. Are you okay with that?” He had to give her an out, but he hoped to hell she didn’t take it.

“Yes, I’m very okay with that.” She beamed at him.

His heart jumped and he tried hard not to examine how much he wanted this time with her. “Glad to hear it. Why don’t you take a bath and relax a bit, while I take care of a few things.”

“Oh…sure.”

* * * *

As Adriana relaxed in the tub, her thoughts drifted. André knew exactly what she liked. He’d lit candles and had smooth jazz playing on the intercom. It was time to face the facts. She loved him and knew in her heart they were right for each other… That was all there was to it. One way or another, they had to work through this. She just wished she knew how they were going to do it because right at this moment, their problems seemed insurmountable.

No matter how she tried to empathize with his concept of family, she came up empty handed. The idea of a man with a phobia of families meeting hers was a little like taking someone who was afraid of heights and shoving them out of an airplane. And it wasn’t just his issues standing in the way.

Once she’d learned that André had tried to contact her parents for business purposes and they’d rebuffed him, her optimism had virtually died.

Her parents would assume he was courting her to steal away their club members. Since it was their only source of income, they were very proprietary. She sighed and rested her head along the edge of the tub. There wasn’t anything to be done about it now. Her parents were out of town for a couple of more weeks.

Adriana looked up and noticed André leaning against the door frame. “Hi, sexy.” He’d changed clothes. His shirt was off and he was barefooted. The top button of his jeans was open and his erection was evident.

André chuckled. “You think I’m sexy?”

“Absolutely.” No man had ever affected her like André. She licked her lips. “You’re positively yummy.”

He shook his head then changed the subject. “You ready to get out of there?”

“Unless you want to join me.”

“I have different plans this evening.” André released the drain then picked her up. He allowed her right leg to gently touch the floor.

Adriana pulled the towel from the rack and began to dry off.

André stood behind her with his hands on her hips giving her added support. “How are you feeling tonight, beautiful girl?”

“I’m excited about these plans you mentioned. I’m hoping they include ending my virginal state.” Okay, that was a little blunter than she had intended. Her face heated with embarrassment.

“Is that so?” He kissed her neck. “I think that can be arranged,” he whispered softly.

Goosebumps dotted her arms as she looked over her shoulder at him in surprise. “Really?”

He stared at her for a few moments before replying. “If you’re sure that’s what you want, then yes.”

She leaned back into him and kissed his cheek. “Yes, André, I want you to make love to me.”

He wrapped his arms around her. “Bebe, that’s what I do every time I touch you.” He gently bit down on her shoulder and rocked his teeth back and forth in mock punishment. “You. Matter. To. Me.”

Didn’t he realize the mixed signals he constantly sent her? Maybe she was reading too much into his statements and actions.
You matter to me
wasn’t exactly a declaration of love, but that’s how she took it. André might believe he wasn’t capable of the emotion, not in the marriage and commitment sort of way at least, but that didn’t stop her from loving him.

She was determined to send her signals straight and true. “And I love you, even if you are a stubborn ass.”

He swung her into his arms. “So what else is new? You love everything, warm baths, candles, roses, puppies, strawberries… Need I go on?”

“Stubborn ass,” she muttered as he carried her into his room.

Twinkling lit candles graced every flat surface of the room, creating a romantic mood. Flower petals were scattered over silken sheets and a single rose had been laid on her nightstand. A bowl of cleaned and cut strawberries sat off to the side. She gasped in surprise as she took it all in.

He gently placed her on the bed.

“I love it!” she exclaimed as they both dissolved into laughter.

Once she could get a handle on her emotions, she gave him a hug. “Thank you.” Noticing his discomfort, she decided she needed to keep the mood on the lighter side. “Do you have a puppy hidden somewhere?”

“No, I just said that to throw you off.” He showed her his mischievous, little boy grin.

“It worked!”

“While calmer heads are prevailing”—he held up a condom—“do you want me to use it?”

“You don’t need to. We’ve both been tested and I’m on the pill.” She didn’t want anything between them.

“As you wish, Adriana.” He tossed it on his nightstand.

“You can lose the pants too.” She smiled knowing she was ‘topping from the bottom’.

He raised his eyebrow. “Giving me orders?”

“If it will head off an argument and get you naked faster, consider it a suggestion.”

“Oh you really do need a spanking, but I’ve decided that tonight will be basically vanilla. That means, this one time, I’ll let you get away with it. Don’t make a habit of it, though. My leniency ends after this evening.” He pulled on one side of his button fly, opening his jeans enough to slide them off his hips onto the floor.

“Why vanilla?” she asked, distracted by the sight of his cock. Licking her lips, she wished she could kneel before him and feel him slide into her mouth.

“Why not?” After kicking off his pants, he sat on the bed beside her.

“I don’t know.” She forced her eyes away from his dick and shrugged. “You own a kink club, I’m submissive,”
or so it seems,
“you’re a Dom. I just assumed it would always be at least a little kinky.”

“To me, this is important. I want it to be memorable, not because of the kink factor, but because it’s you and me coming together for the first time.” He took her hand in his and gave it a peck on the knuckles.

“You’re going to make me cry.” Tears were already pooling and threatening to break free. She was such a cry-baby these days.

“Don’t you dare.” André gave her a stern look.

Adriana giggled. “What’re you gonna do about it, tough guy?”

“I have a few ideas.” André positioned a pillow under her brace. “Don’t move that leg.”

Her bratty side was in full force tonight. “If we’re going all vanilla, then you can’t tell me what to do. I can do pirouettes if I want.” She lifted her leg and moved it in a small circle. Immediately, she regretted it. Pain shot through her leg. As gently as possible, she laid it back on the pillow and fought to keep her face expressionless.

“Adriana!” André snapped. His eyes scrutinized her face. “Do you need a pain pill?”

“No, I’m good,” she lied and took shallow breaths to work through the pain.

“Your inner brat is going to get you in no end of trouble, girl.” He reached across her and took the rose. “Lie back and relax.”

She closed her eyes and gave her body into his keeping. “I’m not too worried.”

André caressed her cheek with the petals. “You don’t need to worry, you need to behave.”

Adriana cooed and turned toward the rose. Her nipples were pebbling as her arousal began building again.

She let out a shocked cry and her eyes flew open as André drew the thorns down her belly. It didn’t hurt, but the sensation was far different.

“There’s a thin line between pain and pleasure.” André’s voice was low and wrapped around her like a warm blanket. “Sometimes they cross and become one.”

She watched him through hooded eyes as he tantalized her with both the soft, silky petals and harsh, prickling thorns. It was true. While she breathed easier when he touched her with white petals, the thorns had her pulse racing.

“Close your eyes,” he ordered.

Without even thinking about it, she obeyed him. From some distant part of her brain, she realized her leg wasn’t hurting anymore. Her total focus was on André and the sensations he was bringing her.

His weight shifted then she felt something brush against her lips.

“Bite.”

Strawberry?
She remembered seeing a bowl full of them. Tentatively, she did as he’d commanded. Cool, sweet juice filled her mouth. Adriana struggled to keep her eyes closed. She was dying to see André, to know what he was going to do next.

Something cold circled her nipple and though she wanted to do as he asked, her eyes flew open.

André tsked. “Such a naughty girl. What am I going to do with you?” He sounded more amused than disappointed.

“I’m trying to be good.” She puffed out her bottom lip in a mock pout.

“We’re going to have to work on your self-control, bebe.” He leaned forward, surrounding her nipple with his mouth.

She arched her back, closed her eyes, moaning and enjoying every moment. When he pulled away she whimpered. “I have great self-control. I haven’t jumped you yet, even though you’ve been teasing me for months now.”

André chuckled and she imagined him looking down at her with his one eyebrow raised.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever been called a tease. I’m worried you might have damaged that pretty little head of yours.”

She shook her head. “You’re a total tease. Wearing those skin tight leathers and linen shirts. Looking…” The air rushed from her lungs as he rubbed a strawberry around her clit.

“Looking what, bebe?” he asked with amusement thick in his voice.

“I don’t remember.” Adriana felt André drag the thorns toward her pussy. She completely froze. She didn’t even take a breath. While she trusted André not to hurt her, she knew accidents happened.

As he rolled it over her mound, her heart began to beat faster. Suddenly, the rose was gone and André was pulling her clit into his mouth. She screamed. From the cold strawberry, to the fear of being prickled, to his moist heat was a shock she hadn’t expected.