Spring Training (3 page)

“No! Please, God, no!” Instinctively, he reached for his cock, desperate to end the painful need himself. A sharp slap to his face, accompanied by a hissed order, stopped him. To his shame, a tear rolled down his cheek.

“Your orgasms are mine, slave! I decide when, or if, you come.”

Returning his hands to the small of his back, he sucked in a deep breath and squared his shoulders. The need to come ebbed to a dull ache he’d learned to live with every day Brooke lived in his home, only now it ached for Mistress Lola’s hand.

“Yes, Mistress.” He forced the words past dry lips. If he dared look up at her, would he see the same smile on her face he wore when he pushed Brooke to the edge then brought her back? As a Dom, controlling his sub’s orgasms was one of his greatest pleasures, but being at the mercy of another for a basic human need was pure torture.

“How does it feel to be denied something you want so badly?”

“I hate it.” Hate wasn’t a strong enough word for the gut-wrenching frustration tearing him apart.

“But think how good it’s going to feel when I let you come in a few days.”

He jerked his gaze up to see the smirk on her face. “Days?” He’d die long before then.

“Days. Weeks if you test me.”

Something in the way she said those last few words sent a shiver through his body. She meant it. She’d play him like a yo-yo, giving him wings then clipping them over and over until he either went insane or ended their association by his own hand. He returned his gaze to the floor.

“Are you beginning to understand how Brooke feels when you toy with her?”

“Yes, Mistress.”

“Your sub is a strong woman.”

“Yes, Mistress. Stronger than I gave her credit for.” Love for Brooke swelled in his chest. “She endures for me.”

“She gives her orgasms to you because it makes
you
happy. She does it to please you even though it kills her inside to be denied.”

“I don’t think I can do that to her again knowing how much it hurts her.”

“Look at me.” A finger beneath his chin urged him to do as commanded. “What do you see?”

He studied her face for a few moments. Her eyes were bright, her lips curved into a wicked smile. “Happiness. Satisfaction.”

She nodded. “Very good, slave. Commanding your orgasms makes me happy, and I won’t deny feeling a bit of smug satisfaction from bringing a man like you to your knees. Think for a moment, Todd. Isn’t that how you feel when
you
are the one playing god?”

An image of Brooke begging for him to let her come flashed through his brain. There was nothing he enjoyed more, except watching her come when his dick was buried deep inside her. “Yes.”

“Remember this conversation, slave. It will serve you well in the weeks to come.” She turned and strode away, issuing a command over her shoulder. “Follow me. On all fours.”

He scrambled to keep up, his knees protesting the entire time. When he fell too far behind, she waited until he caught up, swatting his ass with the leather paddle to urge him on.

Dick limp, he came to a halt in front of what looked like a carpenter’s sawhorse. Since he was so close to the floor, the first thing he noticed were the metal cuffs attached with short chains to eyebolts screwed into the wooden legs. Fear shuddered through him like an icy enema. He hated the idea of being restrained, completely at someone’s mercy.

“Don’t worry.” Did she read his mind? “You won’t be restrained for long tonight.” She let the implied meaning sink in. He understood the concept and power of a mind fuck. Plant the seed and let it germinate so the sub was never sure if this was the time she’d be strapped down for the entire day while her Master amused himself with her body.

“Up. Assume the position.”

I can do this. I strap Brooke to the spanking bench all the time.
He bent at the waist, closing his eyes while his temporary teacher fastened the cuffs around his ankles and wrists. A moment of panic swept over him. He jerked against the chains, coming up short.

Mistress Lola grabbed a fistful of his hair, yanking his face up. “Struggling is futile, slave. The bench is bolted to the floor, the restraints secure. Your ass is mine until I say otherwise.”

Still holding his head up by his hair, she stepped in front of him so his nose was up against her leather-clad pussy. The smell of her recent orgasm, obvious even through the thick fabric, made his dick jump to attention.

“That’s better,” she said, reaching around to tap his erection with her paddle. “Keep it up, big boy, and it won’t get injured.”

Before his brain processed what she meant, she released his hair then moved behind him. The first blow, low on his ass, was so close to his balls they drew up in self-preservation. “Fuck!”

“Count them out for me, slave, and keep that pretty dick of yours out of my way.” Her voice was all business. She owned him in that time and place.

As bad as that first slap hurt, his punishment was only going to get worse if he didn’t comply. “One.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Every step Todd took toward the batting cage was torture. It didn’t help that he was sweating like a stuck pig in the Arizona heat. Not letting his discomfort show on his face made the situation even worse. The last thing he needed was his teammates asking questions he couldn’t answer. His respect and admiration for Brooke grew with every footfall, hell, with every breath.

How she went to work after an evening spent as his plaything was beyond him, but she did it no matter how red her ass was or how brutally he’d used her the night before. The hell of it was, she thanked him! And she would come home and offer herself to him again. He was careful not to use her in that way too often, but he wanted, needed, to do things to her, and her desires mirrored his in a way he’d never expected to find in one woman.

But until he’d been worked over by Mistress Lola, he hadn’t understood even a fraction of what Brooke endured, mentally or physically. A few hours as a sub, and he was as close to crying Uncle as he’d ever been in his life.

Brooke was an amazing woman. And his ass hurt like a son of a bitch.

“You got splinters in your ass, Stevens?” Jake Tulleson, the Mustangs’ batting coach, didn’t take shit from anyone, and he didn’t tolerate players wasting his time.

“No, just feeling my age today.” Stepping up to the plate, Todd adjusted his stance, raising the bat to his shoulder to await the next pitch. “Something you can relate to.”

“Fuck off. If you aren’t here to up your game, then move on. I’ve got other players waiting.”

He liked Jake well enough as a fellow human being, but as a batting coach, he’d never done Todd much good.

Todd swung at the pitch, and the bat connected for a solid grounder to short. He took the next one out to center field and the next one over the left field wall. Satisfied he hadn’t lost his ability to hit during the off-season, he shot the finger at Jake before he made way for the next batter. As he walked away, he replayed his batting practice in his mind. He’d hit pretty well for an old fart who hadn’t swung anything heavier than a flogger in months.

Mistress Lola had worked him over good with the paddle. He would put her up against just about any batter in the Major League. The woman had a wicked swing. He’d slept on his stomach the night before, the only way he was even halfway comfortable. Making his way to the locker room, he prayed for Frank to find a different way to punish Brooke today if he needed to. Another night like the last one, and he wouldn’t be able to play ball for a week.

Todd stopped at the sound of his name. Turning, he waited for Jason Holder to catch up to him. “Jason, my man. How’s it going? How’s Carrie?”

The Mustangs’ catcher smiled, continuing on toward the clubhouse. Todd fell in step beside him.

“Carrie’s great. I miss her like crazy, but with video calling, we stay connected if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I get it.” He had his own variety of staying in touch going on, but it wasn’t the same. He could only imagine the creative ways Jason dominated his wife while they were apart.

“Did Brooke come to Arizona with you?”

“Nah, she has the bakery…you know.”

“I hear ya. Carrie’s working on a big story, so she stayed in Dallas. She might be able to come out for a weekend, or maybe I’ll go back for a quick trip if time allows.”

They’d stopped in front of the clubhouse door, well out of hearing range of everyone else. Jason slapped Todd on the chest with his glove. “Look, man. Carrie said she had lunch with Brooke yesterday. Said you brought in Frank Williams to train her while you’re out of town.”

“This isn’t any of your business, Jason.”

“Carrie is concerned, and that is my business. What the fuck is going on?”

Todd blew out a breath then ran a hand through his hair.
Christ. Even my scalp hurts. H
e clenched his teeth to keep from blurting out more than he wanted the other Dom to know. Some things were private, especially his own shortcomings as a Dominant. And he damn sure wasn’t going to admit anything to the man he’d mentored into the lifestyle. “Brooke is in good hands. I wouldn’t leave her with someone I didn’t trust.”

“Why, man? You could take care of her needs with a video chat.”

“I have my reasons.” He reached past his teammate to open the clubhouse door. “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll drop it.”

“Todd!”

He took off down the hall to the locker room, ignoring Jason’s insistent plea for him to stop. Spotting the Mustangs’ closer coming out of the trainer’s office, he angled toward him. “Hey, Jeff.”

“Todd. How’s it going?”

“Fine. Good to be back.” He looked over his shoulder. He’d been down right rude to one of his best friends, something he’d have to make up for eventually. “You going back out?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell your brother I’ll catch him later, okay?”
If he’s still talking to me.

“I thought I heard Jason’s voice.” Smiling, he shook his head. “Never could teach him any manners.”

“Don’t be too hard on him. We all could use some discipline now and again.”

Jeff clapped him on the back as he headed in the direction Todd had just come. “Don’t I know it? Take care. See you tomorrow.”

***

Brooke checked off another blow job on her mental countdown until Todd returned from Arizona. She was five days into a six-week sentence of obedience to someone else. Frank was good to her, she supposed. After the first day, he’d eased up, only asking her once a day why she submitted to him, which meant fewer punishments doled out for answering incorrectly. If she had a better answer, didn’t he know she would give it?

What do you want from me?

He tucked his dick back in his pants and zipped up. “It’s Friday, pet. Did you do as I asked? Did you put your business in someone else’s hands for the weekend?”

“Yes, Sir.” She had fewer misgivings about the fate of her bakery for the next two days than she did about what Frank had in mind for her. Whatever it was, he said she would be able to return to work on Monday.

“Tonight’s session will be different than any you’ve experienced before.”

“How so, Sir?”

“You’ll see.” He patted her on the top of the head like the pet he called her. “I’m hungry. Serve my dinner then we’ll play.”

She watched his shoes disappear before she headed to the kitchen, wishing for the millionth time Todd could be there. She could endure anything as long as he was with her.

“Do you have an answer for me, subbie?”

On her knees, her gaze cast to the playroom floor, Brooke shook her head. She’d given the only answer she knew every day for the past week. It wasn’t the one Frank wanted to hear, so saying it again wasn’t going to get her anywhere.

“Do you understand the answer I seek is one you will find within yourself?”

“Yes, Sir.”
It’s how I find it that I don’t understand.
She spent her every waking minute wondering what else she could say in reply to his question. He seemed to think the answer was obvious, one she
should
know. But she didn’t. Not knowing made her heart heavy. According to Frank, her lack of understanding was the root of the problems in her relationship with Todd. She loved him so much, she’d do whatever he asked, including submit to anything Frank wanted her to do, especially if, in doing so, she found the key to fixing their relationship.

“Good. We’ve accomplished something in the last few days. We’ll accomplish more this weekend. The sooner you find the answer, the sooner we can proceed to more enjoyable pursuits.”

“I’m trying, Sir.”

“I know you are. I’ve seen how devoted you have been to me these last few days. You’ve served my needs admirably without receiving any pleasure in return. If all goes as I’ve planned, all that will change before the weekend is over.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

He’d wound her tight every night then let her down without permitting her to come. She was close to tears just thinking about an end to her misery.

“Let’s begin, then.” He helped her to stand. “Lie down on the table on your back, spread eagle.”

Todd had installed the multi-use table shortly after she moved into his home. It was one of their favorite furnishings in the playroom, but tonight it looked sinister with the black leather restraints awaiting her on each corner. Glancing at the camera overhead, she spread her limbs. Frank talked to her while he fastened the cuffs around her wrists then her ankles, testing each one to make sure it was tight, but didn’t cut off blood flow to her extremities.

“Okay?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Remember, I’ve discussed everything I plan to do to you with Todd. He’s approved every step of your training. Do you trust your Master?”

“I trust Master Todd with my life.”

“Master Todd has entrusted your life to me, girl, so therefore you must trust me, too.”

“I do, Sir.” Todd would never endanger her. She was certain of that.

“Relax, girl. This weekend is all about you.”

“I command you to be selfish.”
Her heart warmed at the memory of Todd’s words. He’d known this was coming and tried to prepare her.

“Todd and I will enjoy watching your experience, but everything will be for you and your future with the man you love. Do you wish to proceed?”

I’ll do anything to be with Todd for the rest of my life.
“Yes, Sir.”

He placed a warm hand over her stomach. “Close your eyes, girl. Good, girl. Remember, you will never be in danger.”

His footsteps rounded the table, stopped behind her head. She gasped as he fitted a mask over her head, shutting her off from the world. Panic set in. She thrashed about, jerking against the cuffs securing her to the table. Todd had never deprived her this way. He’d blindfolded her, but this was different. Pads held her eyelids shut and fabric blocked her nostrils and mouth with every hastily drawn breath.

“Shh. Relax.” Firm hands on either side of her head held her still. “Let me adjust the mouth opening for you.”

Brooke stilled while Frank moved the stretchy material. Suddenly, there was an opening for her lips. The deep breath she sucked in went a long way to easing her fears.

“That’s it, girl. Breathe. Relax.” He stroked her forehead while he crooned the soothing words in her ear. “You’re doing good. Todd will be proud of his little slave.”

Frank’s reminder Todd was, or would be, watching helped calm her. Her shoulders slumped against the table as she willed all her muscle groups to do the same.

“Perfect. Before we begin our little exercise tonight, let me remind you why you are here.” His hands trailed along her chest, over her breasts and stomach then back up to cup her face. “Use this time to think about your relationship with your Master. Why do you submit to him? What possible reason could you have for wanting to be his slave? When you discover the answer, you will know it in your heart. In a moment, I’ll put the headphones over your ears, depriving you of your hearing. I’ll place a bar across your mouth. Grip it with your teeth. If you must use your safe-word, spit the bar out. Otherwise, no matter what, you are not to speak until I tell you to. Do you understand, pet?”

“How long?”

“Time is not relevant. It means nothing to you except that is all you have. Use it wisely.”

He fitted the headphones over her ears, cutting her off from all sound. The bar he placed between her teeth felt like a rubber dog bone and tasted as nasty as she imagined one would be. She swallowed hard, fighting the urge to spit it out. Master Todd would see her, though, and disappointing him wasn’t an option. She’d done enough of that already—enough that he’d provided a trainer for her.

Obedience school. That’s what this is.
Frank called her pet. Was that all she was to him? He’d done nothing but demand her loyalty and play with her since his arrival. Yet she served him because Master Todd instructed her to.

She lay still, wondering if Frank was still in the room. Or had he trussed her up and leave? Even if Todd wasn’t watching the live feed, he would eventually see her like this, spread and helpless, horny. She squirmed at the thought of the many things her Master might do to her if he were here. Twisting her hips, she hoped he would see her need. If he did, perhaps he’d call Frank and tell him to see to her.

Her trainer teased her to the brink at least once every evening then left her unfulfilled. Forbidden to touch herself, her need had grown into a living, breathing thing she carried inside her all day long. She was so horny, even wearing clothes had become a challenge. The constant pressure of her panties rubbing her swollen labia made her long to find relief anywhere, any way she could. The night before, she woke, humping a pillow. Thankfully, she had come to her senses before she went too far, but she’d lain awake the rest of the night, fighting the urge to finish what her subconscious had started.

Breathe. Think of something besides the ache between your legs and how wonderful it feels when Todd fills you with his cock.