Rude Awakening (21 page)

“Don’t speak,” he said. “Just breathe. I’m here. The police are here.”

He took his gaze off her and looked at the headboard. The straps that bound her were leather, the silver buckles large. He lost no time in undoing one, managing to give her some relief before one of the policemen burst into the room.

“Jesus Christ!” he said, going back out into the hallway. “Secure him!” he shouted, then moved to the other side of the bed to tackle the other wrist buckle.

“Oh, God!” Ruby croaked. “Don’t let him see me like this. Please, don’t…”

“Shh,” Harry said, releasing one ankle. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. No one’s ever going to hurt you again, understand?”

She nodded, her torso lowering to the bed, and he lay beside her, gathering her into his arms. The policeman untied her other ankle and stood in the doorway, speaking into his radio.

Everything faded away—everything except Harry and Ruby. He kissed the top of her head, squeezing her to him, conscious of his sleeve brushing her back and likely causing her more pain. His eyes prickled with emotion at the way she clung to him so tightly. She sobbed, her tears wetting his chest, and he resisted stroking her back to comfort her. The welts were angry, raw, and the sight of them made him feel sick. If he wasn’t involved in this mess he’d have gladly taken Ruby’s case and fought tooth and nail to ensure Nigel was put behind bars, but he couldn’t do it, wouldn’t be allowed to.

No, but I know a man who can.

* * * *

His hallway wall was cold against Master’s cheek at first, but it soon warmed. One of the policemen had cuffed his hands at his lower back and now stood behind him, splayed hand on Master’s head, pinning him in place.

Master sighed. He really hadn’t wanted this to happen. It had the potential to be a mess, but he’d soon straighten it out. He’d play the BDSM card, where he made them see no one in the lifestyle understood the rules, how it appeared to the casual onlooker that he had been abusing Margaret, but that wasn’t the case. No, she was his sub and he had every right to treat her this way—especially because she hadn’t said no, hadn’t said a safe word. She wouldn’t be able to deny it, and if he could get to see her before he was taken to the police station, he’d give her a look that left her in no doubt that if she told the police lies he’d have Harry seen to.

It didn’t turn out that way. Two more officers arrived, burlier than the others, taking him away in the back of their car, neither of them speaking. That was all right. He’d explain once they began interviewing him, would get character witnesses to let them know this had all been a silly mistake. That Harry wanted Margaret for himself and would do anything, including this, to have her.

Yes, that will work.

The lights of the oncoming city grew in number as the car took Nigel to the place where everything would be smoothed over. He hummed, the same tune that he’d filled the room with as he’d trussed Margaret up. He wondered whether she’d shiver with revulsion every time she heard it in the future, whether she’d carry her hate for him inside her for the rest of her life.

He hoped so.

His cock hardened at the thought of
that
.

At the sight of the police station, Master quietly sucked in a breath. He had never been inside one, had never planned to be either, but if things went how he envisaged, he wouldn’t be in this one for very long. He smiled as the car drew to a halt around the back, smiled as the officers led him into the building, and smiled some more when he was guided into an interview room and asked to take a seat.

He sat and waited, with a different officer standing beside the door, and ran through his story in his mind. He had no doubt they’d find the underground room, but that was all right. There was nothing in it, and he wondered what he should tell him he was going to use it for.

A private club. Yes, that would do it. A place where he could entertain his friends. He allowed his thoughts to meander down that route, nodding as he thought of the bare plaster, ready, he would tell them, for the soundproofing men to come in. After all, if he was going to throw parties, he wouldn’t want the beat of music to upset his neighbours. No, he was a good citizen, only wishing to be left alone in peace to live his life.

Margaret would be a good girl, he was sure of it. She’d tell them Harry had no business ringing the police like that. After all, if things went wrong and he
was
convicted—it wouldn’t come to that…of course it wouldn’t—he’d be out in short time, wouldn’t he?

Surely she wouldn’t run the risk of him coming back to find her.

Chapter Sixteen

Four Years Later

Ruby stood in the living room, looking out at the frozen ground. Christmas was a few weeks away, but she wasn’t looking at the snow with Christmas in mind or for the season of goodwill. She was looking at the place where four years ago her life had changed forever.

If Harry hadn’t come out that night to find her, she wouldn’t have lasted much longer with that bastard Nigel, who was now rotting in some prison miles away.

She went into the kitchen and washed the last of the dishes, placing them on the drainer. Peeling off her rubber gloves, she gazed at the diamond ring circling her finger. A few months after that fateful night, Harry had proposed and given her a whirlwind engagement and an even bigger pre-wedding present—she finally had her name changed to something she would want to hear. She couldn’t imagine being a Margaret anymore, and so before their wedding she legally changed her name to Ruby. He’d also gifted her with a collar, a diamond choker to save people looking at her oddly and asking questions—a collar she could wear all the time.

He’d explained about the mirrors, too. When teaching, he’d wanted his subs to love themselves, to be able to see their bodies and faces often without fretting on how they looked—to learn to accept themselves as they were…beautiful, as he saw them. There was no need for the mirrors now he’d given up teaching other women, and Ruby had started loving herself from the day she’d met Harry, but they remained in place—they made for good sex. Watching them together was a huge turn-on for her.

“What have I told you, Ruby?”

Harry’s voice broke across her thoughts, sending a shiver of delight through her body. Smiling, she turned until she butted against the sink, her naked breasts thrust up, cream gathering between her legs. Harry, with his words, had the ability to take her from frozen to molten heat within seconds.

“Why, Sir, I was simply doing the pots.”

How she loved this game. Harry would give her an order—a simple order of don’t do anything—and she’d do something, anything, just to push him a little over the edge. Her punishment would be severe indeed.

“I told you to wait here, in this chair and not to move.”

Harry held onto the back of the pine chair she usually sat in, and Ruby imagined the time last week when he had sat in the very same chair and demanded she ride him to completion. Many times he put her in charge of their lovemaking and tested her in new, delicious ways.

“I guess I couldn’t help myself,” she said softly, bowing her head into her submissive pose.

Nothing would ever rush Harry. He moved slowly until he stood in front of her. Ruby stared at the floor, hoping to keep the smile off her face. So many times before she’d allowed her humour to interfere with their play.

Placing a finger under her chin, he tilted her head back and, as always, he took her breath away. A true Master in every way. Disappointment clouded his face, but the underlying affection he had for her began shining through.

Harry never covered or hid his true feelings from her. She knew and would always know he loved her completely.

“I think my little Ruby needs a spank.”

Like all the times before, she bit her lip and contained the moan threatening to release. Having his hands on her would be a pleasure to behold. He knew how to tease her to the very limits, topple her over the edge and catch her, joining her in the abyss of sensation.

“Yes, Sir, I’ve been very naughty,” she encouraged.

“Hmm. I think you like my punishments a little too much. Maybe I should leave you to deal with your lack of discipline on your own.”

Harry made to turn and Ruby panicked. A few weeks ago she’d given herself to him along with her ability to self-pleasure. He was in complete control and could bring or take pleasure from her.

“No, Sir, please, I need your punishment.” She immediately went to her knees in front of him, bringing her face directly level with his cock.

The large shaft was outlined in his trousers, showing her effect on him.

They paused with him standing over her and Ruby on her knees—a pose she knew drove him to distraction. A test of wills.

He ran his fingers through her hair and she knew he’d give in. This was the idea of their play, to show her that even with him as Master she still had the ability to work a scene. His sub would always have a say in what happened.

“I think you’ve tested me too much.” He sighed.

Her heart kicked a beat. God, she loved this man with her whole being.

He moved to sit in the chair she’d thought about earlier. He sat and patted his knee. Without thought, she followed his instruction, standing in front of him, turning round so he could see the full arse she had now. Ready and waiting to be spanked. She perched on his knee, not wanting to hurt him. She’d put a few pounds on since being with him. No longer did her bones protrude but each curve was nicely rounded and gave him something to hold onto without fear of breaking her.

He cupped her waist and brought her back against his chest, moving his fingers down her body in a slow, agonising caress.

“You’re shuddering. Tell me, sweet Ruby, do you want release?”

“Yes, Master, always.”

She gasped as his fingers brushed over her mound, enough to send waves of sensation through her body but not enough to start her on the main road to pleasure.

Releasing a moan of frustration, he moved down past her cunt to caress her legs. He grasped them, opened them wider.

“I wish I had a mirror so I could see how wet you are. To see this pretty pussy. Who owns this pussy?”

“You do.”

“You do, what?”

“You do…Master.”

She groaned as his finger ran through her wet heat, dripping just from the simple touch.

“Have you been playing with yourself?” he asked.

“No!” she cried in denial.

“No, what?”

“No, Master, I’d never play with myself without your permission. It is forbidden, Master.”

His cock thrust up against her leg at her words.

“Should I punish you?”

“I will accept everything Master has to offer.”

He pushed a finger inside her, his action easy from how wet she was just from being near him. She cried out. Her clit felt like it was ready to explode, and he purposefully didn’t touch it.

“Please, Master…” She flung her head back and closed her eyes, biting her lips together to keep another cry from rushing out. She wanted to order him to touch her but she knew how much worse her punishment would be. He’d make sure her pleasure lasted until the last possible moment instead of giving it to her straightaway.

“Are you telling me what to do, Ruby?”

“No, Master.”

He took his hands away. She whimpered at the loss.

“I think you need a spank, sub. To have this rounded arse hot and red.”

Her pussy gushed more cream. His punishments always had the ability to make her crave the forbidden.

“Over my knee,” he ordered, gently pushing her off his lap to the floor.

Within seconds, she leaned over his knees, her arse in the air ready for punishment. She panted and juices leaked onto the tops of her inner thighs.

Spank me, Harry. Make it burn.

Throughout the years, Harry had managed to master the art of seduction with her, and she knew deep in her heart Harry Knowles was the right man for her. In the society world he was a man to be respected and his rules adhered to—the same as in their private life—but more than that, in the comfort of their home he was the man she could and would love for the rest of her life. He’d never, in all their time together, left her feeling frightened.

“Look at this arse. I could stare at it all night long.”

His hands roamed the cheeks, fingers biting as he squeezed. She moaned and thrust up to meet him, wanting everything he had to offer.

One hand stilled and he slid the other up her back, moving her hair out of the way. Harry always did this to her. Touched her, warming her up ready to receive her punishments. Afterwards, she couldn’t form a coherent thought let alone refuse the man she loved.

Smack!

The first hit shocked her even though she knew it was coming. She gasped and held onto the length of his trouser leg. Exhaling, she enjoyed the heated sting followed by the cool air as he blew over the site. She imagined his hand print clear on her white flesh. He demanded she did not expose her arse to the sun. He liked it pale—easier for him to see his marks.

“Lovely.”