FatalSubmission Read online

  “No.” She answered truthfully but the single word echoed with guilt. She hadn’t broken any of his rules.

  “Claire?”

  Irritating Dom!

  No, she wouldn’t lie to herself. She hated being caught and feeling guilty over flirting. Claire liked Carl but she wanted Mason.

  “Fine,” she sighed. “I didn’t break any of your commandments.”

  Silence.

  Okay, she hated his tactics. The jerk knew if he waited her out she’d confess.

  “I was not bad. I didn’t have sex or get off and I’ve been working on the list.”

  And yet I still feel as if I’ve misbehaved. Thanks a lot.

  “Ugh,” she grumbled in frustration. “I was in the park by U of I…being good…completing my list.”

  Not a peep.

  Jerk face!

  “I met a psychologist who was taking pictures.” Carl had been taking pictures, hadn’t he? She didn’t remember seeing him use the camera, not that it mattered. “We got to talking. Turns out he’s a Dominant.”

  Mason’s growl vibrated right through the phone and down her spine.

  “I said we talked. That’s all. He explained some of the things on the list that I didn’t know.” She held silent for a moment, biting her lip as she considered how to word her question.

  “What’s bothering you from his explanations?”

  Were all Dominants as perceptive as Mason and Carl? She’d have to think about that.

  “You’re…uh…well—” No wussing out, dammit. “You’re not into all the stuff on the list, are you? I mean, it’s just a general list of common BDSM practices, right?”

  His roar of laughter grated on Claire’s last nerve. Squaring her shoulders, she forged ahead as soon as his laughter died down. “Because no way am I letting you shove a horsetail up my ass and then prance around on my hands and knees. Not happening. You can also forget all that S&M crap.”

  “Anything else?”

  Uh-oh. He asked that in the soft and stern Dom tone. But Claire had gone too far to turn back now.

  “I will not be put on display or do any of the really weird role-play stuff. No being led around on a leash like an animal, peeing outside and eating from a bowl on the floor. And rape is not a fantasy.”

  “Are you done now?”

  “Umm…I think so.” For the time being.

  “I do not enjoy inflicting pain, even if it’s what a submissive needs. I will always consider your needs and wants within limits but there are some things I won’t do. The purpose of the list is to find out what works for you and what doesn’t as well as indicating areas worth exploring. It’s a starting point, not a safety net. I will push your boundaries, Claire.”

  Oh Lord, yes, please. She couldn’t wait to get started and see how hard Mason pushed.

  “How much of the checklist have you completed?”

  “Finished it this afternoon.”

  Mason sighed, annoyed by a surge of jealousy yet relieved she’d worked on the list.

  At the park. With another Dom.

  Claire didn’t say those things but he heard them all the same. He didn’t like her turning to someone else for the answers she should have sought from him yet he was grateful the doctor had helped her relax about the list.

  Did he know any Doms who were psychologists?

  “What’s the Dominant’s name?”

  “Carl Skinner. He’s really easy to talk to.”

  And I’m not? Ouch!

  Mason shook off the thought. “Do you have any more questions?”

  Knowing it would take her a moment to form the question in her mind, he patiently waited her out.

  “I don’t get mental bondage. Is that basically a mind fuck or something else?”

  He felt a rush of pride in Claire. She already pleased him and he was happy with how well they were coming to know each other.

  “There are different degrees of mental bondage. It can be as simple as a command for a submissive to show her self-discipline and hold a specific position without the use of physical bonds. But for couples who live the lifestyle, mental bondage can go far deeper than remaining still.”

  Mason knew the Master/slave lifestyle didn’t appeal to her and gave a brief explanation instead of going into lengthy details. “In a service relationship, the Dominant assumes complete responsibility for his submissive, making all her decisions. Neither of us would enjoy the extremes of a Master/slave situation.”

  Her relieved sigh brought a smile to his lips.

  “You’ve done well, Claire. I believe you deserve a reward.”

  “A reward?” Her voice went up an octave, indicating reserved anticipation. “What kind of reward?”

  She was smart to remain cautious until hearing details of his plans. In this case, Mason was certain she’d enjoy what he had in mind.

  “A good one. Would you like to come, Claire?”

  “Silly question.” She snorted. “Of course I would.”

  Yes, she definitely pleased him. “Is your phone wired or cordless?”

  “Cordless…why?”

  He clearly heard the scowl in the words. So very expressive, his Claire.

  “Good. Gives you the freedom to move around. I want you to be comfortable and relaxed enough to enjoy your reward.”

  “Ah, okay.”

  “Go into your bedroom and strip.”

  “All right.”

  He heard quiet movements, a door opening and closing again, then silence. “Are you in your bedroom, Claire?”

  “Yes.” The breathy, husky tone of her voice had him going hard in an instant.

  “Tell me what you’re wearing as you remove each item.”

  “Black patent leather pumps with a short heel.” She breathed a bit faster. “Khaki pants. Black belt.” He heard the distinctive sound of a zipper and soft rustling of material.

  “Crap,” she cursed, followed by a thump and clatter. “Sorry, dropped the phone.” Claire sucked in a breath and blew it out before continuing. “Olive-green short-sleeve button down.”

  She was quiet while juggling the phone, working the buttons and removing her shirt.

  Please, don’t be wearing white granny panties. If you are, lie.

  “What do you have on underneath, Claire?”

  “Satin and lace bra and panties, dark gold, the color of honey.”

  Mason groaned as he pictured her in nothing but honeyed satin and lace. “I wish I could see you.”

  “Me too.” She spoke softly, almost a whisper. “I ache, Mason.”

  “Hush now. I’ll take care of you, Claire. Keep going. Take off the bra and panties.” He gave her a moment to remove her undergarments before his curiosity got the better of him. “Are the panties wet?”

  Her groan answered his question.

  “Have you ever tasted yourself, Claire?”

  “I…what?”

  “I’ll take that as a no.” Mason shifted on the couch, unbuttoned and unzipped the jeans painfully compressing his erection. “Slide a finger along your pussy lips. Get it nice and wet for me.”

  “O-okay.”

  “Now rub your fingertip over your lips then lick them.”

  The raspy sound she made went right to his cock. Mason wrapped his fist around his shaft and squeezed his eyes shut.

  “Suck your finger into your mouth now. Imagine it’s my cock. Run your tongue around it and taste your desire for me.”

  He knew she followed his commands as wet sucking sounds and an uneven moan filled his ear. Imagining every move, he told Claire how he wanted her to position herself on the bed, all the while pumping his fist over his cock slow and easy, desperate to make this last.

  Testing the limits of her obedience, he guided her through teasing the puffy lips of her sex and rimming her entrance for several long minutes. Teasing them both. When he finally had Claire thrust a finger into her hot, wet channel they both moaned.

  “Cup one of those pretty tits in your free hand an
d pinch the nipple between your fingertips.” She had a gorgeous rack he looked forward to feasting on. “Now tuck your chin and lift that nipple toward your lips.”

  “Do w-what?”

  Her confused stammer had him chuckling. “You heard me, honey. Your breasts are large enough that you should be able to get your nipple up to your mouth.” The image in his head had Mason aching to watch her. “Do it, Claire.”

  He put the full power of his will into his tone, a satisfied smile curving his lips as he heard her scramble to comply.

  “Now stick out your tongue and get your nipple nice and wet.”

  Her breathing came in rapid pants mixed with pleasure-filled moans and needy whimpers, driving him out of his mind. Stroking a bit faster and fisting himself harder, he whispered encouragement.

  “You’re doing so well, being such a good girl. Suck on your nipple as I would, nice and hard, but don’t neglect your pussy. Use two fingers now, thrust them fast and deep. So beautiful!”

  Mason gave no quarter, had Claire work her body, taking herself to the brink. The telltale tingling at the base of his spine signaled the rapid approach of his own climax. Palming his heavy balls, he delivered the command that would set them both off.

  “Press your thumb against your clit and rub.” Her hiss let him know she still followed his instructions. As Mason’s balls drew tight against his body, he pushed her over the edge.

  “Come for me now, Claire.”

  A moment later she cried out and he relaxed, letting the climax wash over him.

  Chapter Three

  “I have nothing scheduled this afternoon and was thinking of going to the park. Are you free to join me, love?”

  “Uh…” Claire hesitated and her hand tightened on the phone. She didn’t want to hurt Carl’s feelings and searched for something to say.

  “Ah, you’re meeting Mason. Good. You have the checklist ready?”

  She smiled. Somehow, Carl always knew the right thing to say. He wasn’t bothered that she wanted to give Mason a shot. The man was infinitely understanding. She enjoyed talking to him and their budding friendship was pleasant. He even encouraged her efforts to get Mason moving forward, gave her sound advice.

  “Yup, all set.”

  “Give him this chance, Claire. If he’s serious about pursuing a D/s relationship with you, he won’t make you wait any longer. He’ll acquaint himself with your desires and take the next step to physical intimacy.”

  She sure hoped so. And if not, Carl would be there to give her what she needed.

  “I’ve got to go but I’ll call you later.” Calling Carl and talking to him had made her feel better. He understood D/s and what she was going through with Mason.

  “Good luck.”

  Claire ran a brush through her hair, grabbed the checklist and walked the few blocks. A cheery bell tinkled as she opened the door to find the ice cream parlor empty. She picked a table facing the glass shop front and waited.

  Did Mason do this to her on purpose? She always seemed to be waiting on him. She understood his business was relatively new and required long hours. Still, constantly waiting grew old fast.

  When his Bronco pulled up outside she glanced at her watch. Fifteen minutes late. He strolled toward her table, calm and in control.

  “Hello, Claire.” No apology. Mason simply nodded toward the refrigerated cases. “Did you pick a flavor?”

  “Not yet.” Hearing the irritation in her voice, she made an effort to lighten her tone. “I was waiting for you.”

  He held out a hand to help her up and didn’t let go as they perused the offerings. Once they each had a cone they sat on a bench outside. Mason looked over the checklist without comment then locked it in his car.

  “It’s a nice day. How about a walk?”

  She nodded and they took a leisurely stroll, stopping every so often to window shop. As usual, Mason was in no hurry, their conversation casual.

  “Why did you become a property appraiser? What drew you to the business?”

  “I used to be a real estate agent, which was an okay job but I’m not a good salesperson. I do like buildings though, especially older ones.” She thought back on her childhood daydreams, how she’d stand outside a building and try to picture the interior layout.

  “My friend works in a bank and complained about the excessive wait for appraisals because no one in our area did them so I checked into it.” She licked her ice cream for a moment as she remembered how everything had just clicked. “Turned out it suited me. I get to make my own hours, meet new people, use my math skills and indulge my curiosity.”

  Mason nodded as if he read more into her explanation than she’d said. “And how did you discover you were a submissive?”

  She didn’t even attempt to hold back a wicked grin. “Guy I was dating got invited to a munch and took me. The more I learned about BDSM the more interested I became. At first he was into it, thought it was fun. After a while he lost interest but I didn’t.” She shrugged. “We broke up and I continued to explore. Like the job, it suited me.”

  Yes, there was a great deal more to it but same as with her job, getting into BDSM she’d felt the pieces click into place.

  “So you’ve always been happiest when seeing to the needs of others. A true, natural submissive.”

  Claire stopped in her tracks and stared at Mason for a long moment. How the hell did he do it? A bit of general small talk and he saw deeper into her heart than lifelong friends ever had. Deeper than even she had seen.

  “You adapt, changing yourself to please those you love.”

  He dropped that bomb so casually, as if making a general observation but getting right to the heart of the matter. And it made sense. It put several pieces of her life together. Made her take a second look at the big decisions and changes. Each and every one had been sparked by the needs of others.

  At heart she was a nurturer, a caretaker. When someone she cared about needed something, Claire did whatever she could to fill the need. She’d done so her entire life and never made the connection.

  “When’s the last time you did something because it pleased you?”

  Good question. Racking her brain, she came up blank. She couldn’t think of one instance where something she’d done had been just for her. As she thought, Mason’s ice cream melted, a slow-moving river of chocolate rolling over his fingers.

  Her first instinct was to reach out with her napkin and wipe the chocolate away for him. But what did she want? What would please her?

  She’d love to taste both the ice cream and Mason.

  Claire took a step closer, held his wrist with her free hand and acted without overthinking it. She moved even closer, stuck out her tongue and watched his expression from beneath her lashes as she slowly licked the chocolate from his hand.

  Mason’s intense ice-blue eyes heated, filling with lust. When she reached the top of his hand, she swirled her tongue around the ice cream, imagining it was his cock. She circled the scoop of chocolate, humming in appreciation of the flavor. His entire body tensed and she knew he pictured the same thing she did.

  Glancing down, she noted the hard length of his erection outlined by the faded denim extending from his groin all the way across his right hip. Long and thick and hard.

  Meeting his gaze, she blurted out what was on her mind. “It would please me to taste you, Mason. To drop to my knees, wrap my fist around your shaft and suck your cock to the back of my throat.”

  He closed his eyes and his Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed hard then took several slow, measured breaths.

  A naughty grin tugged at the corners of her lips as she watched him struggle to regain his composure. That little crack in his hard veneer gave her wicked ideas. She wondered how much teasing it would take to push Mason over the edge and out of control. Finding out would be fun.

  * * * * *

  By the glow of red light, Daniel Winters swirled a sheet of white photo paper in the developer bin. He found the astrin
gent chemical scent and red lighting soothing, and smiled as the image appeared on the paper as if by magic.

  Claire.

  The woman was not a classic beauty. Her cheeks were a bit too full, her lips a tad on the thin side, her chin slightly pointed. Her reddish-brown hair haloed her face as she sat with her hazel eyes downcast. A natural submissive even if she lacked training. To him, she was stunning.

  Moving the page to the stop bath, Daniel remained mesmerized by the woman he’d captured on film. Lust surrounded him, flowing over his body, growing stronger each day along with his anticipation.

  He rubbed the edge of the paper between his fingers, pleased by the squeak that let him know it was ready for the fixer. While the image soaked he glanced up at the others hanging from the clothesline to dry.

  Claire getting in her car, large sunglasses hiding her eyes from him, hair pulled back in a ponytail. Unlocking her front door, juggling her purse and a large grocery bag. On a ladder, head cocked sideways as she inspected the eaves of a house. Each image fascinating.

  Next the page he currently developed went into the rinse bin, the trickle of water flowing through the plastic tub, cleaning away the chemicals so the image would last without yellowing.

  He finally added the most recent picture to the line with the others. By far this was his favorite. The red lighting enhanced fiery highlights in her hair, giving it a flaming appearance. She knelt on the ground, legs slightly spread, shoulders back, head bowed to inspect a concrete slab. Precisely how he wished to see her kneeling before him, naked with her unbound hair caressing her slender shoulders, his cock forcing her lips to stretch wide.

  Soon his patience would pay off.

  Daniel double-checked that all the light-sensitive items had been covered or stored in lead bins before switching to normal lighting. He stood before the final image for long moments, stroking her soft cheek, imagining how it would feel when her rosy lips closed around his aching dick. He’d fuck her mouth deeply, her soft whimpers vibrating through his cock, increasing his pleasure.

  Claire would submit with grace and poise, following her Master’s commands without question as he taught her the pleasure to be found in the pain he bestowed on her. She would learn to love the lash—crave its fiery caress. The sharp crack as leather split thin air, the thrilling thud as the tail met soft flesh, followed by the intense sting and heat.