Her Master's Collar (On the Hunt) (12 page)

Chapter Seven

Korene stretched out her hand, unsurprised to find herself alone in bed. Roland’s sleeping pattern had never been the greatest, thanks to all his years in the military, but the injuries he’d sustained on Mars had affected his sleep pattern even more. Since coming to the cabin on top of Roland’s mountain a month ago, she’d adopted his habit of a series of short naps over a twenty-four-hour period.

But she’d just returned from New Washington where her sleep schedule had been thrown for a loop. Add in the piles of paperwork she’d had to deal with, the media she’d had to duck and the launch of a new team to Mars, and his routine had been a damn good thing to return to.

Her trip to New Washington marked the first time she’d been away from him since they’d returned. It hadn’t been the easiest time for them, as she’d had to deal with the fact he’d hidden so much from her. Had this been a new relationship, she’d have been more likely to simply walk away without looking back. But they had a past. One that marked her soul so deeply, it was more than enough reason to continue to invest in their future.

As she rolled over, the wide panoramic window not only gave her a gorgeous view of the mountain range, but also of Roland. The sun threw long rays of golden light over the snow-capped mountains, playing over his bare chest as he stood on an outcropping of rocks. At this angle, the light cast through his linen pants left no doubt he wore nothing else under the fabric.

Instead of immediately going to check on him, she took a selfish moment to admire his sturdy body. Since their arrival on the mountain, he’d purposefully pushed on her walls, but never so much she felt the need to pull out her safe word again. As much as she enjoyed the give-and-take pattern they’d fallen into, something was missing. She admired Roland’s insistence at keeping his vow, but she also took note of the strain it caused him.

He wasn’t the only one.

She pulled the sheet with her as she rose off the bed, walking out onto the porch. After another few minutes of watching him as he stared out at nothing, she walked quietly up behind him. This close, the sunlight played over the silver marks on his back, shoulders and upper arms. Scars from the burns he’d sustained protecting her during their escape from the cave.

“Going to stand there and ogle me all day?”

“Oh hell yes.” He turned, his smirk falling when she dropped the sheet in front of her. She stood there for a moment, enjoying his intense gaze as it caressed her bare skin. “Seems as if you’re doing a fair bit of ogling yourself.”

“But unlike you, I don’t stop with just looking.” He stepped closer, pulling her against him as he dipped his mouth to hers. She found herself swept away by the powerful kiss as he overwhelmed her. His hand conformed to the curve of her lower back, his thumb lightly tracing the small indentions straddling her spine.

For a moment, she became so hypnotized by the gentle touch, she forgot why she’d come out here. The time was right. She wasn’t about to let the moment slip through her fingers. If the mission to Mars had taught her anything, it was not to waste time.

Besides, they’d already wasted so much.

She pushed back, holding him out at arm’s length. His eyes darkened as his arousal increased. She allowed herself a moment to feed on the energy pouring from him. Knowing the choice she’d made was the right one, she slowly went to her knees, the sheet providing protection between the rocks and her delicate skin. Kneeling here before Roland—before her Master—she knew nothing would ever be more perfect for them.

Except something was still missing. Something important to them both.

She lifted her hand, turning her palm up in offering. The sunlight bounced off the silver. “I wanted to return this to you.”

Roland crouched so they were eye to eye as he placed his hand over hers. “It’s not mine.”

Tightening her grip, she sought to reassure him. “It’s always been yours, Roland. Just as I’ve always been yours.”

“Yes, you have. And yes, it has.” Roland shook his head. “But I don’t want it back.”

Her heart missed a beat as she lifted her head to stare at him. Panic began to ice the blood in her veins as her meticulously constructed plan splintered. Her voice dropped to a whisper. “What?”

“Shhh, it’s okay.” His palms cradled her jaw, power and authority emanating from his deep voice. “Look at me. I want you to keep this one, do you understand?”

“Yes Sir.” Despite his order, her trembles increased, filling her chest so she could barely breathe. His eyes narrowed. She understood his apprehension, she didn’t sound convinced by the response either.

“You are a piece of work, my sweet pet. I very much want you in my ropes again, but you need to convince me you belong there. That you’ve earned the right to wear my collar.” Unrestrained mastery flowed from the order.

This
was what had been missing.

“Always for you, Master.” She relaxed in his hands, waiting for him to continue.

He gave a low growl. “Very good.” The tension lining his face vanished as he leaned closer, nearly brushing his lips against hers. “That collar represents a very important time in our lives. But you should have a new one. A different one that is reflective of our new relationship. Don’t you agree?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Wait here.” The panic churning her stomach settled as he disappeared into the cabin. He’d always had her best interests in mind when it came to his dominance. Something told her this wouldn’t be any different.

He returned a few moments later, a circle of metal layered over leather clenched in his hand. “It’s a bit more visible than your other one, but just as permanent. Only I can remove it. If you have an important meeting, I can keep it safe. My preference, of course, is for you to never remove it.”

She reached out and touched it, playing her fingers over the intricate scrollwork etched into the thin metal. “Oh God, Roland, it’s beautiful.”

“Like you.” The metal caught the setting sun, glinting in the low light. “Will you wear my collar, Korene? Will you honor me with your submission?”

She nodded, emotion so thick in her throat she couldn’t form the words. Warm leather caressed her skin as he placed it around her neck. The slim buckle clicked together, a soft beep sounding as it locked in place. As he pulled away, she reached up, skimming her fingers over her new decoration. She doubted she would ever ask him to remove it. If one of her customers or employees had a problem with its presence, they needed to deal with it, not her.

“I had it custom made while you were gone last week.”

“Presumptuous, aren’t you?”

“I always knew you’d come back to me, pet. It was simply a matter of time. And I was willing to wait forever if necessary.” He clamped his hand around both of her wrists, holding them tightly as he encouraged her to stand. He tapped the swell of her hip, pushing her to the side and off the sheet completely. “What I can’t wait for is to get my bindings around you again.”

Within a few minutes, she found herself flat on her back, the unforgiving rock digging pleasantly into her skin. The sheet she’d wrapped around her body now twisted around her flesh. He’d secured her wrists to her ankles, then pushed her bent knees up until she was wide open and exposed in offering.

At his mercy.

The chilly air skimmed over her entrance, her entire body shivering in reaction as she waited. Her breath caught in her throat as his fingers curled to stroke through her wet folds. Those fingers caressed her opening, teasing with the lightest of touches as he used his thumbs to spread her wider. Her skin felt tight as her blood roared through her body. He pinched her clit, her wrists and ankles straining against the cotton binding her.

She desperately tried to ignore his touch, but he was so damn persistent. He would not be ignored. Need swelled, arousal swamping her senses as he continued to slowly stroke her clit over and over. Those patient strokes built her need and desire even more so her whole body jerked whenever he touched her. Light strokes caused her thighs to shake as tension coiled in her abdomen.

“Such admirable control deserves a reward, don’t you think?” His dark laughter washed over her sensitive body as he dipped his head. The first stroke of his tongue shot fireworks off behind her eyes. He took his time slowly circling the hood of her clit, worrying the nub between his teeth before soothing away the ache with a soft caress.

Each touch expanded her pleasure, her desperate whimpers growing sharper as her muscles continued to contract. His caresses grew firmer, each slow drag of his tongue against her slick flesh a delicious agony that had her panting.

His tongue flicked hard against her clit before he opened his mouth to clamp his lips around the straining nub. The sharp pain should have been enough to shatter her into oblivion, but Roland’s skill kept her balanced on a very precarious edge. When her hips bucked against his face, he eased the pressure so he could maintain a pace that suited him. She knew if he was determined enough, he could keep her here forever.

Damn him and his infuriating patience.

Squirming under his mouth, she ached for him to put her out of her misery. To plunge into her over and over to provide relief to the heat burning her soul. She bucked against his tongue again, groaning quietly when he pulled away.

“What’s wrong, pet?” Amusement saturated the question as he continued to tease her clit with featherlight touches.

She opened her eyes to stare defiantly at him. “You have a talent for making me suffer slowly and holding me on the edge, so when you finally touch me, it’s such sweet agony.”

Though she didn’t think it possible, his movement slowed even more. “Is that so?”

Swallowing past her dry throat, around the feel of the new collar, she laid everything on line. She needed to hear the words just as much as she suspected he did. “I can’t live without this. Without you. I love you too much not to any longer. You are too much a part of me to live without you. Please, Master.”

“Ah that’s my girl.” He pushed back to his knees, then stood. His gaze stayed on hers as he tugged at the waistband of his pants. His cock, long and thick, sprang free of the fabric and strained upward toward his flat abdomen. Hand wrapped around the broad base of his erection, he knelt between her legs again. Instead of plunging into her, his gaze moved down her body as he started to smooth his hand up his shaft.

“I have plans for you.” She mewled quietly as he continued to pleasure himself with the same unhurried attention he’d lavished upon her. “I’m going to take you hard—first here, then again in our bed. When you’re loose and pliant, I’ll put you on your hands and knees so I can paint that luscious bottom of yours a few different shades of red. If I find a color that pleases me, I may even take your ass slowly from behind so I can watch the globes of your very stunning bottom swallow my cock.” His voice lowered, adopting a sinful timbre that made her shiver. “Simply because I can.”

He shifted to slide into her with one agonizingly slow thrust, burying his cock to the hilt inside her wet heat. His large shaft stretched her, making her feel so incredibly full. “You have such a snug little pussy, pet. So incredibly tight and willing.”

He began to stroke with firm, driving thrusts that sheathed his cock to the root. This time, his demands on her made it clear this would not be a slow journey to heaven. Exactly what she needed. His mastery of her body sent a wave of euphoria rippling through her. Sensations swamped her, rolling through her as if a powerful earthquake shook the ground beneath her back. Each plunge nudged her closer to mind-numbing chaos.

His hands curled against the back of her thighs, holding her legs back and open as he lifted his body and rode her. Roland pumped into her, using quick, shallow drives intended to push her higher. She gave a keening wail at the unexpectedly powerful surge of desire, her wrists and ankles straining against the restraint. As Roland continued to repeatedly sink into her heat, her wails morphed into high shrieks that echoed off the surrounding mountains.

Her world spun as the walls of her cunt milked his cock, demanding he fall along with her. His sharp growl melted her insides, sending her soaring higher and higher until she was nothing but a boneless pile of sensation. The hot fist of her orgasm exploded outward in unrelenting waves of pleasure that pulverized her with their ferocity.

He slammed into her, fingers digging painfully into her skin as he yanked back, then hammered into her with a violent thrust. His voice roared in her ears as she shattered his willpower, his unyielding cock jerking as he came in a rush.

She slowly rocked against him, her body tingling in all the right places as her release ebbed. Still buried deep inside her, he undid the ties confining her wrists and ankles. Stroking his fingers over her sweaty calves, he pulled her legs around his waist.

Burrowing tighter against his body, her head fit against the hollow where his neck met his shoulder. The scent of him was stronger here, especially after a high level of exertion. He smelled like home—her home. She released a satisfied groan as he shifted their bodies so they lay side by side facing one another.

He tenderly stroked her hair, his hands skimming over her body as he checked for sore spots and bruises. The pampering touch from her Dom soothed her, stilling the whirling in her head. His lips nuzzled her skin, his voice rumbling low and husky as a signal of his own satisfaction. “My promise still stands and always will—I vow to never abandon you again, my love.”