Diablo Blanco Club: Unfair Advantage (7 page)

“After the binding comes the toys. Not just because I like using them on my lovers, but it’ll be necessary.” One hand slipped away from the soft stroking of her nipple to cup first one butt cheek, then the other. “Although you’ve read the books”—his grin was wry—“I’m not seeing you let one of your boyfriends drill your ass, so I’m sure your tight little rose will need a bit of stretching.”

Involuntarily, the muscles in her backside tightened, and Bryce’s chuckle grew throaty and raw as he pressed a finger into the crease, rubbing against the strap of her thong, with the soft silk of her dress the only barrier between her flesh and his hand.

“You like that idea, don’t you?”

Mattie didn’t know how to respond. Yes, she had to admit to liking the sting of the small plug she’d purchased for herself a few years earlier, but to actually allow him to enter her body there…her fingers became difficult to control. She clenched them into fists to keep from reaching for him.

“Then you’ll enjoy the next step. After I’ve stretched you and spent some time enjoying your new territory, Richard will join us on occasion.”

Swallowing, Mattie forced away the new images bombarding her. “You act as if I’ve agreed to these things already.”

His hand stroked over her bottom before slipping under her skirt to slide over her wet underwear. “Your body seems to find the idea arousing.”

“That I won’t deny, but what my mind and my body decide are often two different things.” She wasn’t sure she could make herself step away from Bryce, so she was relieved when he chose to do it himself. The temptation to groan at the loss of his touch was stifled, barely.

“If you aren’t interested in submission, then why bring it up?” He didn’t sound annoyed or angry at her halting of his teasing—more curious than anything.

“Because I need to know if I can take on the role of a submissive.” She stopped herself from adding,
and if you can accept me as one
.

Arms crossed over his chest, Bryce watched her. “I assure you, our marriage won’t suffer if I don’t indulge in the lifestyle.”

Mattie matched his stance. “And I think it would. It’s hard enough when two people love each other and they marry. We’re going into this without that connection. If we have to spend the next few years together, we should at least agree that keeping each other content will go a long way toward making sure the marriage lasts.” With a shrug, she added, “And it’ll go a long way in convincing the board that you have settled.”

“So what are you suggesting?”

“To give you two weeks to show me what it would be like to be your sub.”

“And then what?” His hands settled on his hips.

“We can begin making the wedding plans.”

The light of battle darkened his green eyes to emerald. Ignoring the unnerving flutters building in her lower belly, she waited for his response.

It wasn’t long in coming. “Too long. Dad’s retirement party is in just over a month. I want to be married by that time. Giving you two weeks would delay things, and I don’t trust the board not to act, especially once the Makepeaces learn we’re engaged.”

“Twelve days, then.”

“Three.”

Again, Mattie shook her head. “You’ve implied that you won’t have any problem doing without the BDSM lifestyle, but you’ve had years to understand it. Three days doesn’t give me enough time to figure out what it could represent in our marriage, let alone the rest of my life. What about ten days?”

It was Bryce’s turn to shake his head. “Still too long. Five days.”

“Let’s split the difference and make it a week,” Mattie offered.

Bryce thought about it and began to nod, but Mattie continued, knowing her next words would either piss him off or amuse him. “And no sex.”

Chapter Four

“Are you sure you’ve never dabbled in BDSM before?”

Color filled her face, but the flush seemed more from embarrassment than from guilt at getting caught in a lie. “No. Why?”

“You discuss rules of play rather skillfully, Lawrence.”

A wry smile and small chuckle escaped her. “I learned it all dealing with you, Halsey.”

Negotiating a scene with one of his past lovers had never been as stimulating as bartering for favors with this woman, but Bryce forced himself not to smile. Once he’d determined she was the best candidate to woo the board to his side, he’d planned on spending a week getting her well and thoroughly fucked. A test drive, so to speak, while he began introducing the idea of submission to her. Having her suggest experiencing his lifestyle struck him as rather ironic. Not to mention arousing. “Why?”

She didn’t seem confused by his question. “Why no sex?”

He nodded.

Mattie shrugged. “If I decide I can’t take on the role of a submissive, I don’t want to associate the sex we have during our marriage to the type of sex we engaged in during this week of experimentation.”

Her tone was so matter-of-fact he didn’t doubt she had thought the situation through. Knowing her as he did, he should have expected her to throw a spanner in the works. “How are you supposed to understand what I’ll expect from you if you refuse to have sex?”

The flash of fire in her eyes tugged at the smile he repressed. She remained in place before him, her legs nearly shoulder-width apart, bare toes curling into the silk carpet. In a typical Lawrence habit, she’d abandoned her shoes sometime after entering the room.

“If you want me to be more specific, I will.”

Bryce dipped his head. “Please do.”

“No penetration. I understand some types of foreplay will be required for me to determine if I think I’ll be able to take on the role you want from me, but I want your promise that no intercourse will take place.” Her expression was nearly defiant, stirring his need to make her see the type of satisfaction to be found in sex during submission.

“Am I still allowed to use my tongue, fingers, and any toys?”

Mattie swallowed heavily. The heat in her cheeks returned as she responded, “What kinds?”

Give-and-take—that was always the way with her, and the thought of that tenacity and fire in his bed had him fighting the urge to demand her immediate surrender. Forcing back the response, he listed a few items, taking note of her body’s reaction. “Butt plugs and lube, of course.” She swallowed, and her toes flexed deeper into the carpet’s fibers.
Definitely a yes
, he thought. Aloud, he continued, “As I said before, clamps and chains for your nipples, cuffs and ropes for binding.”

A tiny shiver trembled through her frame.

Another yes
. “My hand, a paddle, and a flogger for punishment.”

This time, the tension in her body hovered between fear and arousal. Remembering what he knew of her past, he assured her, “Right of refusal is still yours, Lawrence.”

She cleared her throat, her eyes shadowed and hard to read. “But will using the safe word negate our agreement?”

Although he disliked the thought of holding back with her, he also knew he would have to go slowly with the part of her training that dealt with physical punishment and its use in creating arousal. The idea of pain to stimulate pleasure wasn’t abhorrent to her, but as it related to anal penetration, not the application of hand or paddle to flesh. “The use of our safe word won’t end the agreement, merely alter certain aspects of what I’d like to introduce you to.”

She nodded, indicating her understanding, before adding, “What do you mean by punishment?”

Stepping closer, he stroked his finger along the side of her neck. “You are a stubborn woman, Lawrence.” He traced the edge of her dress from throat to the deep V between her breasts. Eyes holding hers, he continued, “I don’t expect this claiming to be easy for either of us.”

“Claiming?”

He smiled, enjoying the throaty tone of her voice as his finger continued to slide along the silk, absorbing the heat building in her skin, and noting the subtle swelling of her flesh. “I prefer to think of it that way. You’ll belong to me, Lawrence. As your master, everything you do or say when we’re at the Club will reflect on my training of you.”

“But…”

“No buts, Lawrence.” Bryce’s tone reflected his expectation of immediate compliance. “In effect, I’ll own you.”

He could see her fighting the need to argue. And losing.

“Only as it pertains to sex,” she snapped. “You don’t have any say in how I conduct myself outside the bedroom.”

“I don’t limit my play to the bedroom, Lawrence; you should know that.” The urge to paddle her ass then fuck her was difficult to overcome, especially when she stepped away from him and rolled her eyes at his comment.

“You know what I mean,” she grumbled.

He nodded. “And you understand that many of the men I conduct business with are men I’ve trained in the lifestyle. Even one of the board members.”

In her eyes, he could see comprehension dawning. With it, trepidation slipped into her expression; he addressed it before she could backpedal out of their agreement. He had no intention of wasting the plans he’d set in motion eight years ago because of some imagined fear. “I don’t need a twenty-four-seven D/s relationship. I never have. I’m not expecting you to become compliant in all areas of our relationship, Lawrence, just our sexual one.” He waited for the suspicion to clear in her eyes and then continued, “But, while you’re deciding if you can handle my ownership, there are rules you’ll have to agree to and follow.”

“Rules? What kind of rules?”

“Just like any trainee, you have to learn what is and is not acceptable during this trial period.”

Her furrowed brow smoothed. “Like what I can and cannot say?”

“Not that confining, but things to keep in mind in order to keep you safe.”

Keeping her arms crossed, Mattie followed his progress toward her. “And who was in charge of making up these rules?”

Bryce didn’t bother responding to her question. “Rule number one, no being alone with other men.”

“Don’t you mean men or women?” Mattie demanded. “If you’ve agreed to fidelity, I think it’s important that these rules apply to you, at least during the trial period.”

Bryce shook his head. “Doesn’t work that way, Lawrence. I’m not the one wanting a trial run, remember?”

Drawing a deep breath, Mattie reluctantly admitted he was right. “True, but…”

“No buts. Rule number one, no spending time with, or allowing past lovers or other men to touch you.”

“Agreed.” She knew her resentment at having to put up with such one-sided restrictions was apparent in her tone, but she wasn’t about to hide it from him.

“Rule number two, no self-stimulation unless given permission.”

Mattie seemed to think about it for a moment. It wasn’t like she lay in bed every night masturbating. Going without self-stimulation shouldn’t be that hard to deal with. With that thought in mind, she gave an absent shrug. “Okay.”

“Rule number three, there are no restrictions on where or when I can give instruction to you.”

Shaking her head, Mattie again objected. “I’m not sure about that one. I have to work with the different people in the various departments. If we’re seen by employees…”

“I told you I don’t restrict my sex to the bedroom, Lawrence, but I can see your point.” Taking a moment, he seemed to debate the best way to alter the directive before voicing it. “All right, during the trial period, there are no restrictions on where or when I can give instruction as long as, while we are at work, there is no risk of another employee seeing us. Will that satisfy you?”

“Why not say no touching at work?”

His laughter was both arousing and sinister. The gleam in his eyes should have warned Mattie, but the words that followed stole her breath. “Because I have every intention of bending you over my desk and making you come at every opportunity.”

Images flashed through her mind, making her sway on her feet. The heat flooding her pussy and the gush of juices soaking her panties only made matters worse. Maintaining rational thought after his comment seemed unlikely, but she shook it off. Moving to the sofa, she settled onto the arm and took a deep breath. “I… Okay. I’ll agree to rule number three.”

“Rule number four.” He began taking the few steps necessary to close the distance between them. Bryce took a seat in the wingback armchair that sat at an angle to the sofa. “No climaxing without my permission.”

“Now wait…” she began to protest.

“There’s no negotiating this one, Lawrence.” His tone was firm, implacable. “If I’m to be your master, I own your body and your orgasms.”

“But…”

Leaning forward, his eyes darkened to jade. “Trust me on this. No coming unless I say you can, agreed?”

Despite the protests she was all set to voice, Mattie wasn’t surprised to hear herself agreeing. “Yes, Bryce. Okay, no coming without your permission.”

“Good. Rule number five, use the safe word whenever the situation is too much for you.” He held her gaze. “This one is the most important rule. You will
not
go along with something if you don’t think you can handle it. If you think you need to use our safe word, do so. We can stop, discuss what’s going to happen and how you feel about it, and then you can decide if you want to continue or not.”

“All right. I’ll use the safe word if I feel I can’t handle something.”

Leaning back in the chair, Bryce watched her carefully for several seconds. The intensity of his gaze had a part of her desperate to jump off the sofa arm and run out to her car. A little voice in her head demanded to know what bit of insanity had her contemplating agreeing to his rules, but her heart overruled it.

“Those are the rules, Lawrence.” Bryce watched her closely as she squirmed in her seat. “Do you agree to follow them?”

As keen as his gaze was, Mattie prayed he wouldn’t be able to guess at just how arousing the thought of his punishing her for breaking one of his rules was. If she was very lucky, not to mention very naughty, maybe she’d be getting one of those spankings he’d been threatening her with for years. Shaking away that disturbing but erotic thought, Mattie took a deep breath before responding. “What kind of punishment are you talking about?”