I stand abruptly from my desk, and it's only then that I hear the voices coming through. It was all white noise before.
"Mr. Stone," several men call out. Fuck. I look back at the monitor gritting my teeth, but the moment I do, Dahlia turns to leave.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have-"
"Stay." I give her the command, and she freezes. Her breathing is coming in harsher than before.
I walk past her to the office door, ignoring the questions coming through the speakers, and lock it before moving to the blinds and closing them all. I can feel Dahlia's eyes on me, but I don't turn to face her gaze until we have privacy.
"When Mr. Stone..." a voice rings through the speakers and I quickly walk over to the other side of the desk and lean forward, hitting mute and exiting out of the conference without a word. I don't owe them an explanation, and they still need to have this sorted by tomorrow at the latest. I pay them well, and I expect no less from them.
"Lucian, I-" Dahlia finally says as I walk toward her. I take her small hands in mine and bring her closer to me.
"What's wrong?" I ask her.
"I shouldn't have-" she looks down at the grey carpet and shakes her head, the doubt and regret spreading through her.
I hook my finger under her chin and tilt her up so her soft hazel eyes are forced to look back at me. "What's wrong?"
"I … " She's so hesitant. Last night was hard on us, and I failed her. Again. This is my fault. "I feel like," she chokes on her words, looking past me and out of the window. "I need more."
"I'm sorry about last night," I apologize to her. Her eyes widen slightly as I lead her to the sofa on the side of the office. "Please forgive me for not being as strong as I should be. I've never..." my voice trails off slightly as I debate on how to word this.
"I need to find a balance between giving you what you need, and fulfilling your desires." I pull her into my lap and rub soothing circles along her back. "I also need to curb some of my desires, treasure. And last night that's where I failed you." I cup her chin in my hand and place a soft kiss on her lips.
"I can be a better Dom for you. I will." The look in her eyes is filled with uncertainty. My heart beats frantically at the realization. "Tell me what you're thinking," I command her.
"I want that," she says softly. But there's still hesitation clearly present in her expression.
"What else do you want?" I ask her.
She's quiet and obviously worried, and I don't know why. Maybe she's lost faith in me. I won't let her think that. I won't let her slip through my fingers.
"Get on your knees," I tell her. I'll make her see how good this is. I won't let her question it. I know I failed her, but I can make this right.
Her lips part with a small gasp and she crawls off of me, keeping her eyes on mine until her knees are on the carpet and her hands rest on her thighs.
"Good girl," I say and her expression lifts with my praise. I slowly unbuckle my belt and pull out my cock. I stroke it once and her eyes dart to it and then back to mine.
I keep stroking my dick, making her wait for it. The heated look in her eyes and the quickening of her breathing only makes me harder. It feels like velvet over a thick steel rod in my hand. I groan as a bit of precum leaks from the tip.
"Lick," I utter, and the second the command comes out, her hot tongue laps at my head and she cleans it off with a deep moan. Her beautiful eyes look up at me while she continues to obey me, and it's all I can take.
She wants it hard and rough, and so do I. I can give her that and keep her from taking this to a dark place that she doesn't want to go.
I will.
I pull her up by her hips and throw her down on the sofa, pulling her skirt up over her waist and ripping her panties down her thighs. I can't get them off fast enough, and the thin lace tears. Her neck arches at the sound, and her glistening pussy clenches.
I spread her thighs wider, and slam into her tight pussy without warning. Her back bows at the intensity, and she screams out.
"You'll be quiet, treasure." Her wide eyes look back at me as she bites down on her lip, and I quickly lean forward, fucking my treasure on the leather sofa with short fast strokes. My fingers dig into her hips with a bruising force as my lips crash against hers.
Soft moans mingle with our hot breath and she struggles now to writhe under me as I pound harder into her. My pants fall down around my ass as I pick up my pace, thrusting into her with a savage force, all the while kissing her with devotion and holding her close.
I can give her both. I can, and I will.
"Lucian," she moans my name as her head falls back. Fuck, the sound of her voice full of pleasure, and the feel of her tight walls, hot and wet with her arousal makes me groan into the crook of her neck. I want to rut between her thighs with the primal desire I feel for her. I want to let loose and take from her. But I don't. I can't. I force myself to stay in control and grip the back of her neck as I whisper against her lips.
"Cum for me, treasure." Her eyes stare into mine as I slide in and out of her slick pussy easily, with a force that makes her gasp slightly. Her body jolts with each hard thrust. Every time she closes her eyes, I kiss her gently, passionately, with everything I have.
I'm on edge and ready to cum. It's hard not to with how good she feels. My toes curl, and I hold it back. Her first. I need this from her. She needs this.
"Cum for me," I command her again, slipping my hand between our bodies and rubbing her swollen clit.
Dahlia's eyes go half-lidded and her lips part as her head falls back. I can see she's close, so close. I lean forward, spearing my fingers through her hair, maintaining my steady pace and bringing her forehead close to mine.
I fist her hair and pump my hips faster, gazing into her eyes. There's a spark there, staring back at me, keeping me focused on her. Soft moans pour from her lips and I'm quick to muffle them with my kisses. Our tongues tangle in a heated need to be as close to one another as we can. Her arms wrap around my shoulders, her hands in my hair as I thrust deeper, jolting her body slightly.
I tighten my grip on her hips as she pulls away, moaning my name. Her neck arches, and her mouth opens as her pussy spasms around my dick. I groan into the crook of her neck, loving the feeling and needing more. I kiss along her neck and up her jaw to her lips.
She greedily kisses me back with a passion I've never felt, her hot breath filling my lungs. Her fingers dig into my back, pulling me closer to her. And I lose my composure. "Treasure," I murmur reverently, kissing every available surface of her soft skin as I thrust into her again and again, until I reach my own climax.
The tingling pleasure rolls through my body, building with a tension in the pit of my stomach and then explodes outward. My eyes close and I pull away from her as a rough moan is torn from my throat, but Dahlia takes my head in her hands and forces me to kiss her. She presses her soft lips to mine, and I give her everything I have.
She takes every bit of me in that moment. It's all for her.
Chapter 26
Dahlia
I walk through the hallway of Lucian's penthouse, my chest heaving with excitement, my heart pounding with anticipation. I'm feeling nauseated, and I don't know what from.
Things are different. Yesterday was different. The rules have changed. At least for me they have. I was too chickenshit to tell him that I want him as a partner, a boyfriend, whatever he wants to call it. I need more than a Dom. But I think he knows that. Maybe I'm just pretending. Playing house so that I don't have to believe that I'm just his pet. Just a Submissive he bought at the auction. It feels like so much more though, at least to me.
I'm too afraid to put a label on us. I'm afraid of what he'll say.
I key in the code and open the door. Just like I've done every day for almost a month, it feels natural. Setting my purse on a stand in the foyer, I stop for a moment to touch the necklace at my throat. Lucian gave it to me this morning. It's beautiful, made of gold and diamonds and has a bold, but elegant thickness to it. He wants me to be collared at all times. And he's obtained a variety of them for me. I'm spoiled. I'm very well aware that he's spoiling me in the jewelry department.
Reaching up behind my neck, I delicately take off the chain and slip it into my purse, grabbing out my new Sub collar in its place and locking it around my neck. This one is even more beautiful, with spiked diamonds and gorgeous gold accents dotting the sumptuous, cream-colored leather. It's very flashy, and I would never wear it unless I was alone with Lucian.
I continue down the hallway on my way to the playroom, when I see him standing at the foot of the double-sided staircase. My breath catches in my throat at the sight of him. He's never home when I get here. I'm supposed to wait for him. For a moment fear grips my chest, and I think I must be late. But he smiles at me as he walks toward me. No hint of a punishment in sight. He's looking fucking hot as hell this afternoon, which shouldn't be surprising since I saw him earlier this morning and he looked fucking hot as hell then, too.