9781631055874TexasHoldEmHoltNC (3 page)

Knowing that he had accepted Reulas’s invitation to play a scene with her gave her confidence a boost. She kept her gaze lowered as she followed Garrett down the carpeted hall to one of the doors. He unlocked it with the key card, pushed the door open and motioned her to follow him inside.

Sage drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly.

Here we go!

Chapter Two

Sage had been in all the rooms in her Dallas club but never in one of these. She peeked out from beneath her lashes, taking in her surroundings. The carpeting on the floor was thick and soft, the walls covered in a dark paneling. Along one wall was a tall armoire with its doors open to display a variety of toys and implements. She was sure there were many more as well as other things like lubes and oils and condoms in the lower drawers.

A St. Andrew’s Cross took up one corner with a large easy chair and a small fridge in the other. She also spotted a spanking bench and a padded table before the snap of Garrett’s fingers drew her attention.

“Some things to get out of the way first,” he said in that deep liquid voice. “You may look at me while we take care of the preliminaries.”

She looked up. “Yes, Sir.” Automatically she spread her feet wide apart and clasped her hands behind her back.

Garrett studied her face for a long time. What was he seeing, she wondered? What was he looking for?

“I want you to relax for a minute, sub. We’re going to take care of all the things dancing around in your brain.” She nodded her head and he continued. “Reulas told me about your background. He said you gave him permission.”

She nodded. “I did.”

“That was very smart of you. You left a very bad situation, one that can scar you emotionally as well as physically. I need to be able to spot signs that I’m straying too far into territory that might give you flashbacks.”

“Thank you.” Relief flowed over her.

“This is something a responsible Dom would pay attention to. It’s important that you believe I fall into that category.”

“Because Reulas told you about me,” she guessed.

“No. Because it’s who I am. I am a demanding Dom but at all times concerned with the welfare and safety of my sub. If there are things that I want and need, things that you might not be comfortable with, we can negotiate. In the end we may discover we don’t actually suit each other.”

His face was expressionless but something hot lurked in his eyes, something that reached into the deepest part of her. Sage didn’t know if he had cast a magic spell, or maybe Reulas had, or whatever. She only knew that she felt a connection with this man that she didn’t want to have broken. And whatever went on between them, she would not walk away from it. Because just that quickly, she trusted him.

“Well?” he prompted.

“I trust Reulas,” she said, “so I trust you.” And that wasn’t the only reason.

 “Fine. Then let’s begin.”

A fresh deck of cards sat on a small table by the door. Garrett broke the seal and riffled the pack then turned back to Sage.

“This is a first for me, choosing different scene activities by using a deck of cards.” He riffled them again. “Think they’ve got any ideas from Texas Hold’em in here?” he gave her a smile that reached into every corner of her body.

She smiled back. “Knowing Reulas, I’m sure there are.”

He examined the pack, shuffled the cards and stacked them so the edges were even.

“Okay, my little sub. In Texas Hold’em each player gets two hole cards. That means you and I will each pick two cards the other person doesn’t see.” He handed the deck to her. “Subs first.”

She was pleased to see how steady her hands were when she took the cards from him. Turing her back to him she fanned the cards out on the table face up and studied them. After a great deal of thought she chose two—a picture of a flogger and one of the St. Andrew’s Cross. Then she stood there, not quite knowing what to do with them.

“Just put them there face down,” Garrett said. “We’ll get to those last.” He held his hand out for the deck and made his own choices. When the four cards were sitting side by side, Garrett cut the deck. “I’ll go first this time.”

“Yes, Sir.”

She stood with gaze lowered and hands behind her back again, nibbling her lower lip as she watched him go through the deck.

“I don’t want you to be nervous, sub. I am demanding, but I respect my sub’s boundaries.”

She started to relax a little more until she saw the card he had pulled out. All it showed was a long length of rope, deep purple, probably silk from the image. Sage sucked in her breath at the sight of it and took an involuntary step back.

Garrett reached out to steady her, his hand closing warmly and firmly over her upper arm.

“I know your history,” he reminded her. “But the rope is important in play for me so I want to make sure you aren’t afraid of it any more. It will be up to me, as your Dom, to teach you that it can bring pleasure.” He tucked a finger beneath her chin and tilted her head up. “It’s important to me that you trust me, Sage.”

Her eyes widened. He’d used her name, not the designation. “Why?” The word was out before she could stop herself.

 “I know this sounds strange. Ridiculous, even. At my age I have only been looking for a sub whose taste are compatible with mine. Someone with whom I could have a lasting exchange of pleasure. Someone who would live the life with me at home.” He paused.

“But?” She couldn’t wait any longer for him to continue.

He studied her face for a long intent moment, as if seeking the answer to some unspoken question.

“Reulas is very good at identifying chemistry between people,” he said slowly. “I’m not necessarily one for instant attraction. Been there, done that, got too many T-shirts.” His eyes bored into hers. “You weren’t looking for more than your first scene in a long time right?”

“Y-Yes.” Where was he going with this?

“Something happened between us the minute we set eyes on each other.” He gave her a slightly crooked smile. “Let’s go with it, girl. Maybe Reulas knows more than we do.”

 Sage knew exactly how she felt, but to think that it hit Garrett the same way, too?

“If we’re going to get through this scene and maybe think beyond that, you have to believe I will never abuse the privilege you give me. I will only give you pleasure.” He held up the card, with the length of rope on it. “Trust me, sub. I promise you won’t regret it.”

She blew out a long breath. He was not Andrew, she had sensed that immediately.

Go with it, Sage.

She nodded her head.

Garrett put the card face up on the table and held out the deck to her. “Now you choose one.”

“Just one?” she asked.

He nodded. “That’s one for each of us. Tonight it will be about quality rather than quantity.”

“But what about the hole cards?” She gestured to them lying face down.

“Those will be for next time.” His blue eyes blazed at her like cobalt fire. “And I promise you there will be a next time.”

Oh, God, she hoped so.

Wetting her lips, she took the deck, shuffled through it and pulled out the card that showed a woman on the St. Andrew’s Cross being flogged. Garrett studied it then nodded again.

“Then we begin. First thing. Safe word. I never play without one, even in private.”

“Spice.”

Garrett nodded. “Because sage is a spice. Very good.” He gave her another long look. “This is your first time in a scene after what happened. If at any moment it overwhelms you, just say your safe word and we stop.”

“But—” She nibbled her lower lip. “But what if—”

“That won’t be the end.” His smile warmed her. “We can go as slow as you want, girl. I’m in no rush. If it takes several nights for you to immerse yourself completely again, that’s how we’ll do it.” He cupped her chin. “I want to find out if the unexpected spark is real or a figment of an overheated imagination.”

She could hardly believe he read her mind. But then, back to Reulas, who would only give her someone who understood and respected where she was coming from. Another knot of tension inside her eased.

“Does that work for you?” he prompted.

“Yes, Sir.”

“Then let’s begin. Shoes off.” His voice had deepened and become more commanding.

Sage stepped out of her shoes and nudged them to the side.  “Now the thong. Hand it to me.”

Her hands shook just slightly as she worked the scrap of fabric down her legs and held it out to him. When he lifted it to his face and deeply inhaled her fragrance she became instantly wetter and needy. She could hardly wait to be bound and helpless for him, feeling the sharp bite of the flogger.

She stood waiting expectantly for his next instruction.

Another shiver slipped over her as he walked slowly around her, studying every inch of her. He cupped each breast, lightly pinching her nipples before sliding his hand over the curve of her ass. He let his fingers trail in the hot crevice between her cheeks, the touch so electric more of her cream flooded her pussy.

“Go to the cupboard and fetch the purple rope hanging there,” he ordered. “And bring me a small bottle of oil from the top drawer. Jasmine scent.”

Sage’s hands shook slightly as she lifted down the rope, the woven strands silken against her fingers as opposed to the rough hemp that Andrew favored. For one brief second a flashback slammed into her, but she deliberately forced it away. This was Garrett, not Andrew. Tonight would banish the past from her mind. Grabbing a bottle of oil she handed that and the rope to Garrett, then stood with hands clasped behind her back, waiting for his next command.

Chapter Three

Garrett was having a hell of a time keeping himself under control. The very last thing he’d expected when Reulas told him about Sage was to be poleaxed by a storm of emotion the moment he laid eyes on her. He’d listened to the Dungeon Master describe this very special sub, a woman who had been badly treated by her longtime Dom and was just now dipping her toe in the scene again. She needed special handling, firm but compassionate. He had not expected to fall for this woman—or any woman—at first glance. When he retired from the rodeo all he’d hoped for was a sub with whom he was compatible who he could share his life with. But this? This was like finding the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Lustrous golden blonde hair tumbled to her shoulders brushing softly against creamy skin. Hazel eyes flecked with gold looked up at him through the thickest lashes he’d ever seen. Ripe full breasts tipped with rosy nipples made his mouth just water while he hands itched to trace the curve of lush lips and a well-rounded ass. A beautiful cunt completely waxed so he could see every mouthwatering inch of it. When he’d slipped his fingers into the tunnel between those sweet cheeks the heat of her nearly burned his skin and his cock painfully demanded release from its restraint.

The last thing he’d expected tonight was to find a woman that he wanted to take home and keep forever. He saw by the look in her eyes that the same thunderbolt had struck her. But first they had to get past the baggage he knew she still carried, which is why he had chosen the rope for his card. He would use it properly as a means to gain her complete trust, to show her how different this could be.

And make this work. Erase all the bad memories that lurked in the back of her mind.

“I like to oil my subs,” he said at last. “It not only enhances every contact with the skin but eases the bruising.” He nodded at the padded table, covered with a thick towel. “Climb up on there and lay down on your back.”

Her movements were so graceful, although a little self-conscious, not unexpected under the circumstances. When she was flat on her back, hands at her sides he allowed himself a moment to look at her again. Then he toed off his boots and socks, stripped off his shirt and set all the items next to the big armchair. He had to keep the pants on or he was afraid he might embarrass himself. It had been a lot of years since a woman made him so hard and so hot and so ready this quickly.

Uncapping the bottle of oil, he drizzled a little into the valley between her breasts then poured some into one of his palms and rubbed them together. With slow, sure movements he began to spread the lubricant over her skin.

“Next time,” he told her in a steady voice, “and I tell you again, there will be a next time, I’m going to fit a nice pair of tiny clamps over these gorgeous nipples. Every few minutes I’m going to tighten them a little more, until these ripe buds are swollen and dark with the blood constrained in them. Then I’m going to lock your wrists and ankles to the table and spend as much time as I want just licking and biting them until I make you come with just that alone.” He gave her a hungry smile. “But not until I give you permission.”

He could see a tremor of anticipation skating over her.

The muscles in her tummy flexed as he rubbed the oil into them. When he eased his fingers over the waxed surface into the slit between her labia he saw the pulse at the hollow of her throat accelerate. Eyes focused on her face, he massaged the tender flesh, her cream blending with the oil. Slowly he spread the lips of her mound and sucked in a breath as his gaze landed on the swollen engorged bud of her clit.

As he’d done with her nipples earlier, he pinched it, lightly at first then harder and harder. He saw her clench her hands into fists to hold onto her control as he worked that little nub, stroking and massaging it, pinching it hard then stroking it again. Tormenting her clit gave him a good indication of what her tolerance was for pain, long before he picked up the flogger and that was important for him to know. Every muscle in her body signaled her arousal, the stimulation that was driving it toward climax. She had a hungry pleading look in her eyes, but as a trained sub she knew she had a long ways to go before he would permit her relief. Tonight he would find out just how far he could push her.

His oiled fingers slid easily into her hot channel, itself so lubricated with her juices that he slid in and out without a problem. He increased to three fingers and then to four, the fit now tight and creating delicious friction. Her walls fluttered around his intrusion and clamped down on him. Her breathing ramped up, her pulse beating faster, until he abruptly withdrew his hand and gave her clit one more hard pinch.