Blank Canvas-epub (6 page)

And as usual, he read the thought. “Careful, gorgeous. It’s never a good idea to taunt a man who’s bigger than you.”

He put the white candle back on his nightstand and picked up a blue one. After that, all conversation died as Jennifer gave herself up to the moment.

Each splash of wax burned, scorching a path through her skin straight to her pussy. She clenched her inner muscles, though they remained empty, aching. Caliph ignored her pleas, her cries, her demand that he “put down those goddamn candles and fuck me.”

Jennifer lost all sense of time, of place. The dark room, illuminated only by candles, allowed her to disappear into the shadows. After spending the past year standing in a glaring light that forced her to see and acknowledge every flaw and shortcoming, the black night was a blessed relief.

Here, she was sheltered, safe.

She started to anticipate and look forward to each splash, every sting. Her eyelids drifted closed and her begging turned to just one word. His name.

“Caliph. Caliph. Caliph.”

Jennifer wasn’t sure how long she’d lain on his bed after Caliph stopped painting her body with wax. When she opened her eyes, she was surprised to discover he’d turned on his bedside lamp.

It took several moments for her gaze to focus, for her vision to clear enough to find him. He was sitting on the side of the bed, looking at her body.

When he realized she was looking at him, he smiled. “You’re beautiful.”

Jennifer lifted her head to glance down. She gasped as she took in his artwork. Her body was a kaleidoscope of texture, shape, and form.

He’d set her colors free.

Caliph took his time cleaning the wax from Jennifer’s soft skin. He’d indulged in wax play with several women over the years, but none of them had ever responded so naturally, so intensely as Jennifer. She’d accepted his dominance—handing herself over to him, allowing him to take her somewhere she’d never gone before. Her trust was awakening places in him he didn’t know existed.

He’d covered her with mineral oil in order to make the clean up easier. Once the last of the wax was stripped from her body, he placed the blunt knife he’d been using on the nightstand.

Jennifer’s eyes were closed, not in exhaustion, but bliss. Her chest rose and fell rapidly and her nipples were tight, hard little cherries begging him to take a bite. He let his hand drift lower, watching her face closely as he dragged his fingers along the slit between her legs from anus to clit.

She gasped, her gaze finding his. She was wet, hot, the scent of her arousal increasing his own hunger.

“I want you, Jen.”

She lifted one shoulder, the gesture so innocent and honest it hit him like a wrecking ball. “I’m yours.”

He tried to ignore the incredible impact those words had on him. “How far are you willing to go?”

Her eyes blinked rapidly, her brow creased as she considered his question. Then, she smiled. “I’m going to be forty soon, Caliph. I’ve wasted decades of my life, settling for good enough instead of reaching for something amazing. I’m tired of coloring inside the lines. I want an explosion, an adventure. Hell, I’d even settle for a red-hot mess. I guess what I’m saying is I want as much as you’re willing to give me.”

Caliph felt lightheaded as he considered her offer. “Be very sure, Jen. If you’re serious about this, I’m not going to hold back. I’ll make demands that I will expect to be obeyed.”

Her face flushed, but there was no mistaking it for nervousness. Right before his eyes, the flower bloomed, the petals opening. She wasn’t scared. She was in.

“Daisy.” He felt compelled to remind her one last time. “That’s the only word that will end this. Not no or ouch or even stop.”

“Daisy,” she repeated. “I’ll remember.”

Caliph reached down and released the straps on her ankles. Jennifer made a soft mew of disappointment that made him chuckle. “Don’t worry. We’ll use those again. Later. Right now…”

He reached for her hand, drawing her up until she was sitting in front of him on the bed. Jennifer used her freedom to press her legs together, not because of modesty, but as a means of seeking relief. He allowed her the brief attempt, perfectly aware it wouldn’t help much. She’d been riding the edge of an orgasm for nearly an hour. He longed to say to hell with everything, push her to her back and fuck her until they both went blind with pleasure.

And while that was clearly what she wanted, it wasn’t even close to what she needed.

He grasped her hand and tugged gently until she was standing beside the bed.

He took a few minutes to clean up, removing the drop cloth and putting the comforter back on the bed. Then he sat on the edge.

“Kneel here.” Caliph threw a pillow on the floor and put her in the position he wanted, Jennifer on her knees between his legs. “Leave your hands on your thighs. Don’t move them.”

Gripping his cock, he ran his hand along the hard flesh as Jennifer watched. She licked her lips and started to move toward him, but he stopped her with a firm grip on her long brown hair. She gasped at his tight hold.

“Just watch, Jen. Don’t do anything I don’t tell you to do.”

Her breathing became more erratic, but she didn’t try to pull away. “Okay.”

He continued to stroke his cock, letting her see how hard he liked it, how fast, what places were more sensitive than others. Jennifer was a serious student, her expressive blue eyes observing everything he did.

“Open your mouth.”

She obeyed instantly and he was struck by the fact she didn’t lift her hands or try to move closer. She simply did as he asked. Caliph touched her lips with the head of his cock, but made no attempt to push inside her mouth.

“Let me feel your tongue.”

Again, she gave him what he asked for. Her licks were timid at first, quick swipes, but soon she became more adventurous, taking longer tastes, teasing the opening to his cock with the tip of her tongue. He fought to regulate his own breathing as she treated his dick like an ice cream cone she simply couldn’t get enough of.

After several minutes, Caliph used his fist in her hair to tug her away. Jennifer’s eyes closed and she moaned softly. She was definitely getting off on his roughness, on his control. It drove the Dom inside him crazy. He wasn’t sure he’d ever met such a natural—yet untried—submissive. Every alpha nerve in his body was clamoring to take her, teach her, make her his own.

He shook off the thought. Jennifer wasn’t looking for more than the weekend and she wasn’t ready for what he was considering.

Shit, he hadn’t thought he was looking for a more serious relationship prior to tonight. He was happy with his bachelor status. Or he had been.

Now…

Jennifer moved slightly and he realized she was frowning.

“I’m sorry. Did I do something wrong?”

He shook his head. Her tone of voice, laced with fear of failure, pissed him off. Her fucking ex had a lot to answer for. “No, Jen. You did everything right. I needed a second to get control or this was going to be over too damn quick.”

Her face lit up. “Really?”

He rolled his eyes at the disbelief in her question. “Yes. Really. New rule, Jen. No more talking.”

She narrowed her eyes briefly.

“You don’t like that rule?” he asked.

“What if I have questions?”

He resisted the urge to laugh. She was inquisitive, a newbie to all the things he wanted to expose her to. “Make a list in your head. We’ll do a Q and A afterwards.”

She giggled, but didn’t complain. “Okay.”

“Now open that mouth and come here.” This time he didn’t stop with just the head. He pushed deeper, going slowly to give her time to adjust to his size. He figured he wasn’t much bigger than the average guy, but Jennifer clearly wasn’t accustomed to giving blowjobs. She struggled a bit.

Once half his cock was in, he paused. “Take more.”

Her brow creased, but she made the attempt.

Caliph cupped her cheeks, running his thumbs along the soft skin there. “Open your throat and take me all the way in.”

She resisted when he pushed against the back of her throat. His grip on her face tightened.

“You can do it, Jen. Just relax and try.”

He thrust in several times more, watching as Jennifer fought to give him what he wanted. Finally, on the sixth attempt, something gave way and his cock slid deeper.

Her eyes widened, first with surprise, then with obvious delight. If Caliph had been able to offer praise, he would have. As it was, it was taking all his powers of concentration not to come too quickly. Now that Jennifer had mastered the technique, she was putting it to good use. Her head bobbed along his flesh, taking him deeper, swallowing at just the right time. Her hands had moved to grip his thighs and she was using them as leverage to help her move even faster.

Jesus. He’d been holding her face as a means of control before, but now he needed his hands there just to fucking hold on.

Twice, three more times, she took him in and Caliph gave up the battle. A deep groan rumbled through his chest as he came. Jennifer was ready, swallowing his come as spots formed behind his eyes.

“Mother of God,” he said through gritted teeth. When the last drop had been squeezed out, he tried to pull back, but Jennifer followed him, holding his now-flaccid cock in her mouth as she rested her head against his thigh.

Caliph ran his hands through her long tresses gently as he lightly massaged her scalp.

Then he cupped her cheek and pushed her face away from his cock. She looked up at him and smiled. He started to return the grin, then he noticed her hands were still on his thighs.

“You moved your hands.”

Jennifer seemed confused for a few seconds before her memory kicked in. “I forgot.”

He frowned, though he was far from angry. She’d just offered him the perfect opportunity to expand their play. “And it appears you forgot that you aren’t supposed to speak either.”

Jennifer bit her lip, but the excited flush in her cheeks urged him to go on. He’d long ago learned that many women craved the dangerous bad boy. Caliph had no problem playing that role because it allowed him to indulge his own desire to dominate. And punish.

“Stand up, Jen.”

She rose, her movements a bit wobbly. Caliph placed a firm hand on her elbow to help.

“I think it’s time you learn what happens to subs who don’t do as they’re told.”

She blinked rapidly. “Subs?”

His jaw tightened and she winced, aware she’d spoken out of turn once again. He gripped her wrist and tugged until she lay facedown over his lap.

Jennifer fought briefly against the position, her body going into flight mode before her brain could catch up. He placed a firm hand on her upper back, pressing down, while his other kept her legs from thrashing. Then he paused for a full minute, letting her adjust to the situation and waiting to see if she would say the safe word.

When it became clear she wasn’t going to speak, he moved his hand from her legs and began to stroke her bare ass. She jerked at the initial touch, clearly expecting him to strike rather than caress.

“Do you understand why you’re being punished?”

Silence met his question.

“You can answer my question, Jen. In fact, I expect you to respond when I ask you something.”

“Yes. I know why.”

“Tell me.”

She shivered slightly. “I disobeyed your orders. Three times.”

“That’s right. You did.” He lifted his hand and brought it down against her ass. Jennifer’s response was exactly as he’d anticipated. She reared up, intent on escape. He kept one hand on her back, preventing it. He spanked her several more times, the rhythm of the blows varying in placement and strength. He didn’t pause. Jennifer knew how to stop him—her word was there to protect her if she needed it.

Apparently she didn’t. Her hands found his right shin, gripping it tightly as he continued her punishment. After a dozen or so swats, he pushed her legs open, running his fingers along her slit.

Jennifer moaned. She was hot, wet and so fucking aroused. He’d kept her on the verge of a climax for nearly two hours.

She tried to push closer to his fingers, seeking more.

“You want to come, Jen?”

“Please,” she whispered.

Caliph pushed two fingers inside her pussy, the simple touch triggering an avalanche.

Jennifer reared up roughly as she cried out. “Oh God. Harder.”

Caliph continued to move until she stiffened, her body trembling with her orgasm.

He had glimpsed Jennifer’s submissiveness in the shop. When combined with her bruised self-esteem, it had tugged at his heart, triggered a need in him to reach out to hold her.

He longed to expose her desires, to show Jennifer the beauty to be found in giving herself to a man completely, while trying to bolster her confidence. Caliph was pissed off at her ex for the number he’d worked on her and he hoped he never ran into the man on the street. His plan had been to give her one night to discover who she was and exactly how much she had to offer.

What he hadn’t expected was to find the perfect complement to his own desires. She was the yin to his yang, the medium to his technique.

But Jennifer wasn’t looking for a relationship. She’d said so herself. And he believed her. Understood that she truly needed time to find herself.

Even as he thought the words, he wanted to rage against the cliché.

She began to tremble and he heard her soft sniffle. He lifted her, drawing her onto his lap. Caliph felt a splash of wetness on his skin.

“Jen?”

She burrowed deeper against his chest, obviously ashamed of her tears.

“Hey.” Caliph lifted her face until he could see her pretty blue eyes. “Don’t hide from me.”

“I d-don’t know why I’m c-crying. You must think I’m insane.”

He frowned. “No. I think you’re a beautiful woman who just experienced something new and pretty fucking intense. It’s going to take you a little while to find your footing again. Just hold tight to me, okay? I won’t let you fall.”

Her grip around his neck tightened, her tears flowing more freely now. He placed soft kisses on the top of her head, whispering “shh” over and over until her trembling stopped and her breathing slowed. Her response to his spanking was normal. She was new to the experience and though there was genuine submissiveness at her core, it was natural for her to be confused by her response and her feelings about the act, as they were likely in direct opposition to everything she’d ever been raised to believe about being an independent woman.