All He Desires: The Invitation (#1) (6 page)

He exhaled, wincing around the pleasure or the pain I couldn’t be sure. But even as I did it, his thrusts became more feverish. Desperate. I dug my nails against his skin again, whimpering as he drove himself into me.

“You know just how…to drive a man out of his mind, don’t you?” Logan asked between breaths.

“I try.”

He grinned. Kissed my earlobe. “So do I.”

All the sounds in the world couldn’t compare to that man right before he lost it. He sucked in a breath. Exhaled. Groaned. Someone cried out.

Logan’s nails bit into my hips as he thrust once. Twice.
Hold it together, Kira.

“Kira…”

I lost it. My world fell down around me, and as it did, my pussy clamped around his cock. Almost as if he’d gotten a second wind, Logan bucked hard and fast, drawing my orgasm out as far as it could go. And with one final thrust, he came.

Chapter 7

When I finally returned to whatever reality existed before stepping into my apartment, we were in the same place as before. Disoriented and probably a little more out of breath than we’d care to admit, we lay in a crumpled heap in the middle of my bed.

“That was…shit,” Logan began, sitting up to get rid of the condom. Once he returned from throwing it into the wastebasket, he pulled me into his lap. “Thank you.”

“What…what for?” I ran my fingers through his hair.

“For trusting me. For coming to see me tonight.”

I leaned into him when he draped his arms around me. “Thank you for getting Dennis off my case.”

Logan kissed me on the forehead and lifted my chin to meet my gaze. “Is he always like that?”

I shook my head. “Only when he’s drunk.”

“And how often is that?”

I winced and got up off the bed to turn on the light. “Most of the time.”

When I sat back down, he was right beside me, wrapping the comforter around my shoulders. “I wasn’t joking when I said we can file a restraining order against him. And with as many witnesses as we had tonight—”

“I couldn’t impose like that.”

“Kira, look at me.”

When I did, his expression was so kind, it took me a moment to remember who I was talking to.

“When someone threatens your life, verbal or not, you have every right to push them away.”

“I know that, it’s just…” I sighed. “He has a key.”

“Is that all? Look, replacing the locks is easy. I can do it myself, and so could you. The question is, would you be willing to file a report against him?”

“Yes. And you were right.” I hugged the comforter around me.

“How do you mean?”

“I never considered how dangerous this escort thing is. My other clients may be weird at times, but they aren’t rough.”

“But your ex is.”

“Yes, which is why I’m starting to really consider what you said.”

“Will you quit completely, or just offer your services as a companion?”

“I…I honestly don’t know. This is my only source of income.”

He nodded and looked as if he was about to say something, but then thought better of it. For a long moment, neither of us spoke. Pulling me into his arms, Logan rocked from side to side, resting his chin on my head. When was the last time I ever felt this safe? I couldn’t remember.

Dennis had always had a need for control. Come to think of it, most of my boyfriends did, but at the time, I had my mother to chase them away before they could do any harm. Dennis hadn’t sent me to the ER, but he’d certainly had his moments of rage. And out of all the times he stormed out of the house, it wasn’t his inevitable return that bothered me most. It was my knowing he was on the road, usually at night, drunk and speeding.

It’s amazing he never killed anyone.

“So,” I began, resting my head on Logan’s chest. “I kind of missed some of the demo, and we never got to do the Q and A part of it.”

Logan smiled. “Ask away.”

“Did the ropes hurt Marisa at all?”

“As long as it’s done correctly, no, the ropes shouldn’t hurt.”

“So, you give demos?”

“Not just demos. Thing is, what you saw tonight is a big part of who I am. Every man, every woman you saw is a part of my lifestyle.”

“Humor me for a minute?”

“Of course.”

I chewed at my lip. “If you have so many...”

“Subs.”

“If you have so many available to you, why visit me?”

“Because,” Logan began, turning me around so I was facing him. “I wasn't looking for a sub.”

“And now?”

“That all depends on how far you'd like our relationship to go. I'm comfortable enough with you to see my face and the way I live, just as I'm sure you're comfortable with me entering your home.” He gestured to the walls around us. “In your room for example.”

“I am.” I cringed.

“What is it?”

“Out of all the men I've serviced...you're different.”

“That sounds bad.”

“It's quite the opposite actually. Ever since our interview, you've treated me like any other person. Not just some...some...”

“Object?” He raised an eyebrow at me. “Like your ex? Many woman feel that way, even those who claim to be happily married.”

“But how is what you do any different? Women on their knees. Bound. Ordered to do things...”

“Because, while on the outside it may look like the subs are just objects for these doms, they're actually loved and well looked after. Take Devlin and Marisa for example. She submits to him willingly, but if you were to look at them now—after what you saw tonight—you'd place no judgment. They just look like any other couple in love. Sadly, the rep our community has is no thanks to the fiction out there that's gotten it all wrong. Subs are never abused, and if they are, their dom isn't one we want within our community.”

“But how can you tell the difference?”

“Usually you can't, not unless you watch them play. A sub who enjoys her dom’s company and impact play will lean into the strikes, whereas a sub who's mistreated will flinch away from them. Even if a sub is a total pain slut, if she's not feeling in the mood, her dom would never pressure her, not unless he feels it won't push her limits.”

“And what are those limits?”

“Depends on the sub. For example, if I were to invite you into one of the play rooms back at
The Limelight
, what's the one thing you'd absolutely refuse to do?”

“I...I'm not sure.” I watched my hands as I wrung them in my lap.

“And that's okay.” Logan reached for my hand, taking it in his as he spoke. “Those new to the lifestyle have no idea what they'll like. An experienced dom knows this and will respect it, taking things only as far as the sub will allow.”

“But this is a total power exchange, isn't it?”

“It can be, but most subs are given safe words. If she says one of those, play stops immediately. Any dom that doesn't adhere to this rule isn't a dom at all.”

“Sounds nice.”

“It can be. The safe words are a sub’s safety net. Here.” He urged me to get out of his lap so he could stand up. “I think now is the perfect time for some tea.”

I laughed at that, and after grabbing a robe from inside my closet, I followed him down the hall, turning on lights as we went. He stopped at one point to pull his boxers on, then joined me in the kitchen.

“What’s your poison?” I asked, opening the cabinet.

“Actually, I’d like to try the kind you make whenever I come over, if you have any left.”

“I always keep extra on hand. This may sound silly, but every single one of my clients has a different flavor.”

“And I’m assuming every flavor reflects the kind of person he is?”

“Pretty much.”

“Interesting.” He picked up the box of orange spice and turned it over to read the back. “So I’m…spicy?”

“Mysterious. I couldn’t place you, just like I could never really place the tea. I mean, I know it’s orange, but then again, it isn’t.” I shrugged. “Sounded like a good idea at the time.”

“Sounds delicious.”

As we waited for the water to boil, we made the usual small talk most couples do. Only with Logan, everything he said intrigued me. He was a lawyer for one of the largest firms in the city, but he was also a well-respected dom. Knowing he was both of these things, I couldn’t begin to imagine how he juggled both personas without getting them confused.

“When did you know?” I asked. “About being a dom I mean.”

“Early twenties. I had my suspicions, but at the time, I had no idea what to call it. And when my parents noticed my particular knack, they suggested law school.”

“Do you always do what your parents say?”

“Of course not. It just turns out that they were right. Fish meet water.”

“I guess so.”

“What about you? How did you ever get into the escort business?”

“It happened on a whim. I needed the money and I noticed an ad. I didn’t answer it of course, but after I got the idea in my head, it wouldn’t let me go.”

The tea kettle whistled just then, and Logan turned off the stove before plopping a tea bag along with some water into his mug. I did the same and hugged the mug between my hands.

“Tell you what. Stop seeing these other men of yours, and I’ll cover you for whatever you need.”

I set my mug on the counter. “But that's how I make my living...”

“Do you enjoy it?”

I chewed at my bottom lip.

“I'm giving you an out,” he said.

“To be your personal play thing.”

“No. I would never objectify you. You said it yourself, I was the only one who treated you as a person—with respect. That won't change, and if for any reason this isn't for you, you can back out.”

“Do we need to...would I have to do what I saw tonight?”

“No. Not until you're ready. Listen, give it some thought. When you feel you're ready, you can visit me. I think it’s about time, don’t you?”

I swallowed hard. “You’re still staying the night, right.”

Logan smiled and removed the tea bag from his mug. “Of course. I’ll stay for as long as you need.”

“Thank you.”

“But if we're going to continue down this path, you should probably know my name.”

I lifted my gaze, confused. “I thought I did.”

“Stage name. While Devlin and Marisa know both my names, I have one for the stage to keep my personal life safe, and only out myself to those I know I can trust. Keeping two names is how some doms keep personal life and their D/s life separate.”

“So Logan isn't your name?”

“Master Logan is the man you saw on stage tonight. However, the man in your kitchen?” He sipped at his tea. “Jake Evans.”

I grinned and held out my hand. “Kira Thorn.”

“This tea I amazing, by the way,” he said, shaking my hand.

“Don't I know it.”

Jake set his mug out of the way and pulled me into his arms. He stoked my hair and pressed a hand against the small of my back. I had him for one whole night. More if I needed it. Looking back on everything that had happened throughout the day, his invitation to meet him at his place became even more appealing.

Maybe getting away from this is just what you need.
I’d give it until morning and make my decision then. But deep down, I already knew my choice.

TO BE CONTINUED...

WORKS IN THIS SERIES INCLUDE:

The Invitation | The Proposal | The Limelight | The Ceremony

www.erinlark.com