Ultimatum(6)

His startling eyes pinned me. “I’ve been lenient. Until you agree to address me as Master, you’ll not be allowed to speak.” He grasped an odd ball contraption and mashed it against my lips. “Open your mouth.”

Trepidation set in. “You don’t need to do this. I’ll call you Master.”

“Yes you will. Now open your mouth.” I feared the command in his tone, the underlying threat that if I didn’t do as told, being gagged would be the least of my worries. I parted my lips, and the taste of rubber assaulted my tongue. He fastened the straps tight enough to make my jaw ache.

“Whenever your mouth is otherwise engaged—” his lips curved into a wicked grin, and I could only imagine what he was thinking “—you can snap your fingers in lieu of saying your safe word.” He grabbed my hands and yanked them up, hooking them above my head. “Spread your legs.”

My skirt bunched around my thighs as I obeyed, revealing a scrap of white panties. My pulse drummed in my ears, drowned out everything else as he kneeled down and fastened two more cuffs around my ankles. He placed a bar between them, ensuring I remained spread for him.

Gage stood and slowly pulled on a tether. “On your toes.”

My eyes grew wide as he hoisted me up, and an unintelligible sound escaped me. The position made my breasts jut out, caused my legs to wobble until I was able to gain balance. I shifted my wrists, but they wouldn’t budge. My arms and shoulders burned. How long was he going to make me stand like this? Better yet, what was he going to do?

I had my answer a moment later. He grabbed a pair of scissors and moved toward me. I panicked, let out a muffled cry as he came closer.

“Relax. I’m not going to hurt you. I want you naked.” He slid the cool metal along my skin and cut away my bra. Tears overflowed as my breasts spilled free, right into the warmth of his waiting palms.

Gage fondled them, weighed them in his hands, and his gaze zeroed in on my hardened peaks. “Perfect, just the right size.” He flicked his thumbs back and forth. I gasped for breath, vacillated between shame and arousal as every touch zinged to my core. Unable to take anymore, I tried to jerk away. He pinched each nipple and twisted, and I squeezed my eyes shut against the pain.

“Look at me, Kayla.” He increased the pinch. I lifted my lashes, silently begged him to stop.

“You’ve got spirit, and you’re stubborn. The more you resist, the more it turns me on.” He released me and bent to his knees again. I couldn’t stop trembling as he cut the skirt and panties from my body.

“You’re so gorgeous strung up like that, helpless and open. Naked.” His gaze journeyed over me, finally arrived at the juncture between my thighs. “Red indeed.” He delved a finger inside. I shot to the very tips of my toes.

“God, baby, you’re so tight. How is that possible after giving birth?” His warm hand smoothed across my abdomen, and he traced the wounds left behind from my four years of marital hell. “What happened here?” The question was a rhetorical one, since I couldn’t answer him verbally. “They look like knife wounds.” He thrust another finger inside, gliding in and out, never breaking eye contact. I was helpless to do anything but accept his invasion. My eyes drifted shut.

“Don’t.” Another hard pinch of my nipple reminded me of his power. “I want you to watch me.” With a twitch of a smile, Gage circled my clit with precision. My belly clenched, and I throbbed deep within as liquid heat ignited between my legs. “You’re not allowed to hide your shame from me.” He closed his mouth over a nipple, teased with his tongue, lightly nipped.

I squirmed as the fire in my body spread and intensified. God, it’d been so long. Too long. It was the only explanation for my reaction.

“You don’t want to want me, but you do.” He stroked me languidly, caressing in a sensual rhythm that drove me out of my mind. “I’ve been watching you, Kayla, noticing those shy glances you aim my way when you think no one’s looking. If I didn’t think this would work between us, I would’ve had you thrown in jail.”

My muscles tightened, and I shamefully moved against his hand. I hadn’t expected this, for him to make me want to come. A low moan escaped, and I almost did.

He pulled away abruptly. “You’re not allowed to orgasm without my explicit permission. Like clothing, sexual gratification is a gift you must earn.” He grabbed my chin and brought his face close to mine. “Take this time to think about your behavior.”

Gage stepped away and smiled, as if we were conversing about something as mundane as the weather. His eyes wandered to my breasts, and my nipples begged for his touch, his mouth. “The room is under surveillance, so trust I’ll keep an eye on you for safety reasons. I’m not a careless Master, but you must know where you stand with me. Disobedience will always earn you punishment. You’ll stand like that for an hour.”