Love Bound (8 page)

* * * *

Sitting about thirty feet away from
the dancers, Dom tightened his fingers around the fragile champagne flute. It
gave an ominous crack before Lauren pried it from his grip with a soft murmur. He
was only vaguely aware of his date standing behind him. In front of his very
eyes, the sensual woman he knew Addie to be, who had fought to keep that part
of herself hidden, emerged. He had to take a deep breath to keep from taking
her down to the floor in front of his business associates and fucking her. Every
cell in his body ached to claim the voluptuous creature in front of him. She
was temptation in flesh. Behind the crisp tuxedo pants he wore, his cock
lengthened to press persistently at the clothing restraining it.

As she undulated to the sultry beat of
the music, he tried to hold onto his raveling control, but it wasn’t easy. She
was the picture-perfect image of everything he wanted in his mate. When she
lifted her eyes, blazing with both need and her half-hidden desire to submit,
before lowering them again, he knew without a doubt she’d be his perfect
submissive. Now he just had to find out what was holding her back and destroy
the barrier.

“I see why you want her, Sir Dom. Even
I can tell she’s dying to have a man take her control from her. She’s an
un-awakened submissive. She longs for it but won’t reach for it without a good
bit of encouragement, but once she does, then she’ll be perfect for you.” Lauren’s
voice was almost reverent. He glanced up at his friend’s sub and realized
having her reaffirmation about Addie’s hidden nature was the main reason why
he’d asked Lucian to borrow her for the evening.

“Thank you, Lauren. I was hoping I
wasn’t mistaken. She’s a control freak, but once I have broken her self-control
and she realizes she has nothing to fear from entrusting her body to me, I’m
going to warm her ass until it’s red while she’s crying out for release. I may
even shackle her to the cross while I’m at it.” Keeping his voice pitched low
so others wouldn’t hear his private conversation, he couldn’t help but laugh
when her eyes went wide.

“What did she do to piss you off, Sir
Dom?” Her voice was breathless and he knew Lucian would thank him later. Lauren
was exquisitely responsive, so the idea of him punishing his wayward sub was
enough to have her begging at Lucian’s feet for her own punishment.

“She tried to lie to me.”

She frowned. “That’s not a good thing.
With no trust between the sub and her master, the relationship is doomed.”

“Exactly, but even worse - when she
tried to fake her pleasure and I called her on it - she ran from me.” His chest
fell rapidly even now as the memory of her crying and fighting to free her
hands from his grasp. Then when he tried to calm her, she’d shut down and
totally refused any response.

Lauren’s eyes widened and her own
hands flew automatically to her bottom. Faking an orgasm was a sure-fire way to
get a sub’s ass beat. “Oh dear! Tell me she didn’t try to fake her climax.” The
disbelief in her voice told its own story. As a true submissive the thought of
faking a climax was horrifying - truly difficult for her to accept. Nibbling on
her lower lip, she struggled with the idea. “Perhaps she wasn’t ready to
climax, Sir Dom?”

His eyes darkened before he shook his
head. “No, Lauren, she was trembling on the edge of a huge orgasm, more than
likely a multiple, if she would’ve just let go and surrendered. I don’t know
why she held back but she was right on the edge then froze. Before I could help
her, she tried to fake her orgasm. Why the hell did she have to be so stubborn?
She’s…”

“…trying to sneak away, Sir Dom.” Her
gentle warning had him turning back around to face the dance floor. The music
had faded and the object of his lust was slipping through the crowd with
practiced ease.

“Oh, no you don’t, Adalia Diamonte.” He
stood and held his hand out to Lauren. “I want you to do me a favor, little
Lauren.”

“Of course, Sir Dom.” She smiled up at
him.

“Tag after her. Let me know where she
goes. When she enters my room, come get me.”

“Your bedroom?”

“Yes. Once there it’s only a short
trip to my playroom.” He raised his eyebrows at her.

“Sir Domnhall, you’re just plain
evil.” Her giggle ruined the admonishment.

He winked. “Of course I am, Lauren.
But would you have me any other way?”

* * * *

Cursing under her breath, Addie kicked
the safe closed. “Where the hell did you hide it, Domhnall O’Shanahan?” So far
she’d checked the desk in his study, his leather valet in his walk-in closet
and even the small safe nestled beside his bed. The marquise diamond ring was
simply nowhere to be found.

She was tempted to go downstairs and
kick Dom’s ass. Her frustration with this assignment was that high. Especially
after feeling Dom’s eyes slithering over every inch of her while she danced.
She’d expected relief to be her primary feeling when she slipped away through
the crowd. Instead when he’d turned to his date and seemed immersed in their
discussion, she’d felt forlorn and almost violent enough to rip the little
brunette’s hair out when she caught the hungry look he gave his date. Her heart
had nearly stopped, but she had to remind herself, she no longer had the right
to feel this way. She’d chosen to walk away from him rather give him any control
over her. Sinking down on the bed, she rubbed her neck and wondered what
would’ve happened if she’d given him what he wanted. She’d come closer than
she’d ever had the night she’d walked out…

Feeling the silk sheets against her
back, she fought the demands of her own body even as her thighs trembled with
the need to climax. Between her raised thighs, Dom lay sprawled on his stomach,
his lips wet with her juices as his fingers slid inside of her aching pussy. He’d
been toying with her body for nearly an hour but she wasn’t any closer to
giving him what he wanted than when they’d started. She just couldn’t let go -
no matter how close to climaxing she was. She hated the idea that when she
failed once more, the frustrated look he’d give her would turn into one of
resignation as he said good-bye.

“Ahhh…I can’t…” She grasped the pillow
under her head when he curved his fingers and brushed a spot so sensitive she
couldn’t help but flinch.

A growl escaped him. “Yes you can. Relax.
Give yourself to me, baby. I’ll catch you.”

His harsh command had her stiffening.
While his voice was coaxing she could hear the steel determination behind it. Instead
of giving her the push to let go, her response was to freeze. The pleasure
which had been so close to erupting slid away as she sobbed in denial. More
than anything she wanted to please him. He’d been so patient with her despite
the fact she hadn’t been able to orgasm with him.

A low moan escaped her when she felt
the brush of his tongue over her clit as he toyed with the small hoop which
pierced it. Despite the fact her clit was swollen and every tap and tug on her
clit ring should’ve coaxed her nearer to and then over the edge, she felt
helpless against the wall that separated her from the pleasure she’d heard all
her girlfriends talk about.

“So wet and needy.” His head lifted
and he looked up at her. “Now, come for me.”

Staring into his intense eyes, she
panicked and did what she done with other lovers but had sworn she’d never do
with Dom - she faked it. Giving a low moan, she rhythmically squeezed her
muscles around his fingers and arched up against him. When it felt like she’d
drawn it out long enough to be convincing, she sank back down to bedding, her
breathing still raspy. She’d never considered the fact that her muscles
clenched in protest as he removed his fingers or that her nipples were still
distended — these telltale clues gave away her ruse.

A low curse escaped him as he rolled
away from her. Standing next to the bed he propped his hands on his naked hips,
unconcerned with the erection that nearly reached his navel. “What was that?”
His voice was colder than she’d ever heard it.

“I…”

“We agreed, Adalia, we’d be honest
with each other.”

She flushed, “Of course.”

“I will not abide with liars in my
bed, Ms. Diamonte, and faking an orgasm is the ultimate lie between lovers.”

She swallowed and moved to leave the
bed.

“Stay put. I’m very angry with you. In
fact so angry that you’d try something like this I need to get away from you
before I take you over my knee and paddle your little ass.” He turned and
stormed from the room.

Licking her lips, she stared at the
closed door before standing on wobbly legs. Her thighs no longer trembled with
unslaked desire. Now they shook from not fear but anguish because she’d just
lost something she didn’t even realize she had. Grabbing her clothes off the
chair where she’d draped them, she quickly dressed. Slipping past the closed
study door, she ran silently down the hallway and let herself out, leaving
behind the only man she’d ever come close to giving up her control for…

* * * *

“Revisiting the scene of the crime,
Adalia?” Dom’s cool voice had her flinching and jumping to her feet. She looked
at him and tried to judge the distance between him and the door. Could she make
it?

“Don’t even try it.” Kicking the door
shut, he pressed the electronic lock and leaned up against it.

“Dom, I wasn’t expecting to see you…”
She moved towards the French doors on the other side of the room.

“Why ever not? This is my home and
while I enjoyed your little show downstairs, it only pisses me off that before
tonight you refused to dance for me.”

Clenching her teeth, she tried to
control her temper. “Just because you paid for the lessons doesn’t mean I am
obligated to dance for you, Domhnall!”

He shrugged before pushing off the
door. “No it doesn’t.” He reached up and loosened the tie around his neck. “But
you are deluded if you think that walking out of here that night last year
cleared you of your obligations to me.”

She froze like a deer ready to flee. “Excuse
me?”

“You owe me an orgasm, Addie and that
is one debt I intend to collect.” His hazel eyes were full of determination.

“Excuse me?” Her eyes were wide as he pulled the tie free
of his collar.

He smirked. “You heard me, Addie.”

She gave a frustrated sigh but kept her distance from
him. As always Dom could be very unpredictable. She wasn’t going to be foolish
enough to get within his reach. “What is it with you men? Why can’t you let it
go, Dom? I can’t orgasm. I’ve learned to deal with it. Better untouched than
trying to explain to a man he can try all he wants and still get nada in
return.” She moved to the other side of the room and placed her hand on the
French doors.

“You don’t have a prayer in hell of leaving this room
untouched tonight.” He took a step towards her. “And you will come tonight,
repeatedly. I will settle for nothing less.”

She gave him a sarcastic look. “Been there, done that,
even got the t-shirt to prove it. It didn’t work last year, it won’t this time
either. Why not save yourself the headache and me the embarrassment?” She
couldn’t believe she was actually arguing with her ex-lover about orgasms when
she was supposed to be finding Bathilda’s missing ring.

He crossed his arms over his chest, the scrap of black
silk dangling from his fingers. “Why do you think it would give me a headache
to pleasure you?”

“Let’s face the reality here, Dom, you had several months
to try and it didn’t happen. I’m done beating my head against that particular
wall. Besides I didn’t come here to open old wounds. Bye.” She turned the knob
and was halfway through the door, when his voice stopped her.

“What about the ring, Adalia?”

She froze before looking over her shoulder at him. Then
she gave him a small smile she knew didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Do you have
it?”

He shrugged his shoulders. “The question is: are you
willing to pay the price to find out?”

A shiver of both fear and excitement filled her. “We’re
not playing let’s make a deal.” She’d seen him do this a numerous times with
her father. In fact that’s how she’d met him; at a business luncheon her father
had demanded she host for him. But now, just like then, Dom had a shrewd look
on his face. He had an ace up his sleeve and she had a feeling she was going to
end up on the losing end this time, instead of her powerful father.

“Why ever not, Addie? From what I hear, you’re really
good at it.” His voice was cool.

A wave an embarrassment followed by fury washed over her.
She didn’t need his brutal reminder of how many times she’d played this game
with her own family until she’d finally gotten fed up and had left. Never
again, she’d vowed.

“And if you don’t, you’ll have to go back to Bethilda and
admit defeat.”

Shaking her head, she released the door handle and walked
over to face him. Reaching up, she patted his cheek. “So that’s your Ace. I may
be desperate for work, but even I won’t whore myself out to you to find some
damn ring which I’m suspecting now was never stolen and may not even exist. You
and Bathilda can kiss my ass.”