Power Play [Pleasure Playground 2] (10 page)

She hesitated while Eve's words clicked into place. “I don't know what to say."

"You don't need to say anything to me. Think about it. In fact, stay here and take all the time you need. No one will bother you here."

"Thank you, Eve."

"Don't thank me yet. If you decide to go back, and I think you should, it won't be easy. Just stop thinking with your head and go with your heart. That's all anyone should ask."

With that, Eve opened the office door and walked out, softly closing it behind her. The sudden silence consumed Jennifer's thoughts. She wanted to rail against the advice her friend had given her. If she could stomp her feet and embrace the anger she'd used earlier to walk out Daegan's door, the whole situation would be a hell of a lot simpler. Instead, she went round and round with what was stopping her. She had a nice and simple life with work and the occasional trip to the club to work out her frustrations. Why couldn't that be enough?

It was all his fault. The Irish devil made her think of things not meant for her. An exchange of power. His control for her submission. His protection and guidance instead of her destructive emotions. Jennifer sighed. They needed to talk. Maybe there was more to this than she'd thought, and maybe there wasn't. How would she ever know if she didn't even try? So far her life had been one big fight, and she'd grown weary of it. The fight for love from people who should have loved her no matter what, the fight for freedom to survive without love, and the fight against an inner craving for something that often drove her to the brink of madness.

Rules made her balk. She'd never lived by any. Not really. Don't be late for school or work. Always be polite to strangers. Do unto others as you'd want done to you. The normal shit every kid learned growing up. But these rules—these were personal. Rules specifically designed for her. If she followed them, it would be the ultimate test. Jennifer's stomach tumbled.

No one had ever given her any rules...

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Jennifer shifted from foot to foot, biting her lip while she anxiously waited for Daegan to answer his door. Her stomach twisted every time she imagined the anger she'd face and what it would take to make up to him for walking out. There was always the chance Eve was completely wrong about him, and he'd refuse to see her again. Her fear and indifference was often mistaken for brattiness, and there were many Doms with no tolerance for such behavior.

The door eased open, and Daegan immediately filled the opening. Tall with broad shoulders, his body alone dominated the space around her. He angled his body so one hip rested on the door frame and placed him easily within her personal space. Something deep inside her tingled, reminding her of how he managed to make her feel without ever speaking a word.
Protected.

Silence stretched between them as he clearly waited for her to say something. Jennifer swallowed past the lump in her throat and tried to speak. “I—I'm sorry I walked out.” God, apologizing like that sounded so lame. She wanted him to step back and usher her inside, not make her do this in the hallway. Instead, his intense scrutiny and everlasting patience made her feel like she stood under a microscope.

"You scared me,” she admitted.

"Scared is okay. Unfortunately, walking away isn't. If you aren't willing to talk through and negotiate any issues you have, then we shouldn't even bother with anything more."

Jennifer hung her head. Of course he was right. She'd behaved like an idiot. “I've never had a relationship before. I don't know how to handle it.” Her voice broke.

With his big, strong hand, Daegan cupped the back of her neck and pulled her toward him. She burrowed into his chest and inhaled deeply. As usual, his familiar scent of wood and man made butterflies churn in her stomach. A deep yearning blossomed inside her. Even amid anger and pain he made her feel different. Less alone. Jennifer sighed, her breath fanning against the soft fabric of his shirt.

"We have a lot to talk about.” His voice came out harsh, thready.

Jennifer jerked under his hand and peered into his eyes. An interesting mix of anger, regret, and desire stared back at her. Her stomach somersaulted. Maybe he would let her transgression slide. What a fool she'd been. Still, he'd come up with those crazy rules and then sprung them on her out of the blue. Never would she have guessed he'd plan to be so—so involved.

They'd have to discuss it, but the tension between them stifled her. “I'm sorry for leaving. I realize now it was a mistake."

Daegan threaded his fingers in her hair and toyed with the back of her neck. Her skin prickled under the pleasure of his touch.

"You should never sneak out on me like that. It's the act of a petulant child."

Jennifer fell silent. His words rubbed her the wrong way. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared. If he wanted petulant child, she'd sure as hell give it to him. “I'll have to try and behave."

Daegan lifted an eyebrow and tightened his hand around the back of her neck. “Now would not be the ideal time to misbehave,” he warned.

Instead of mouthing off to him, Jennifer took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. This wasn't why she'd come. “When you told me the rules, I freaked. Wrong or right, I couldn't deal. I'm sorry."

The look on Daegan's face shifted, and some of the tension between them eased. “We don't have to talk tonight. It's getting late, and I think we both need some sleep.” He pulled her farther into his apartment and closed the door behind her. “Do you want to stay this time?"

She swallowed around a lump in her throat and nodded.

"Good.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her to the bedroom at the back of the apartment. “You can stay here tonight.” He led her into the now dark room where she could make out nothing until he turned on a bedside lamp. “I'll be just across the apartment in the master bedroom if you need anything."

The room suddenly seemed even smaller than before. “I don't understand. This isn't your room?"

A soft smile tipped the corners of Daegan's mouth. “No, love. This is your room."

For once, Jennifer found herself speechless. This was the last thing in the world she expected from him. She'd assumed that if he forgave her, he'd want to have sex with her. Maybe finish what they'd started earlier. At the very least they'd share the same room.

"Don't look so shocked. This isn't just about how quick I can get my dick in your cunt, you know. Not that I won't be thinking about it all night though.” He eased away from her and quietly began undressing her while she processed his crude words. Arousal burned through her now that he'd made it clear she'd be alone tonight. She didn't want a bed by herself. She wanted a lover, dammit.

"I thought you want to—” She hesitated. “You know."

"Dominate you?"

She nodded as the last of her clothes fell to her feet.

"Domination isn't just about sex. Not for me. I want you in here because you don't deserve a place in my bed tonight. Your behavior earlier earned you a punishment, and this is what I've decided on. First, go stand against the wall with your hands over your head."

Jennifer's eyes opened wide. “Excuse me?"

His lips pressed into a firm line. “I know you understood me."

"But—"

Daegan grasped her elbow and steered her to the wall. “Stop trying to argue with me at every turn. You can either accept my decisions or gather your clothes and leave."

She bit back a gasp. “What are you going to do?” She couldn't help it. The curiosity got to her. Fear of the unknown controlled her tongue. Not that it stopped her from following his directions and getting into position against the wall as requested.

"You, love, need some discipline in your life. I think you try really hard to keep life on an even keel, but far too often it spirals out of control, and you don't know what to do. So you go to the club and stand in line for a flogging or a whipping from a stranger. Does that make you happy?"

Jennifer grasped for the words to answer him, to tell him he didn't know what the hell he was talking about, but she forgot everything when he pressed his weight against her buttocks and back, pushing her into the wall.

The hard muscles of his arms wrapped around her shoulders at the same time his big hands clamped down on hers. The work-roughened skin sent a tremble through her body. He was planning to spank her and then leave her in a room by herself. If anything, she should be livid, but instead her body shivered under his touch and moisture pooled between her thighs. “My life is too complicated for this."

"That's exactly the point. You worry, you hide, and you manage to forget you are a woman with needs by working too much. Until you can't stand it anymore. That's no way to live, love."

"You don't...” God, talking to him like this was about as effective as talking to a brick wall. If she told him she wanted him to stop, it would be a big fat lie. Hell, if he stopped now, she might die from the need of it. She'd walked out on him, and he wanted to punish her for that, and she wanted his discipline. Fucked-up or not—she did.

He must have sensed her acquiescence. Daegan eased away from her while his palm began to rub her buttocks. “You need this, Jennifer. I'd even daresay you want it."

His calm, even tone struck low in her belly. Her sex squeezed, and her racing mind began to relax. If she really wanted to end this, she could. The option would always be hers to walk out the door whenever she was ready. The problem she feared was that she might never be ready again.

His hand cupped her bottom. “I want you to stay in position and take the spanking you deserve. Trust me when I say that you are getting off light this time. Keep that in mind next time you consider disobeying me."

Jennifer moaned, a half-strangled sound that shocked her. What did this mean? No one had done this before when she misbehaved. Sure her parents admonished her when she pushed for their attention, but they never followed through on any of her transgressions.

She felt him step back moments before his hand landed on her ass hard.
Oww
. Stinging pain erupted along her right cheek, bringing her on her toes with the shock of it.

"I don't want this,” she moaned.

"Yes, you do. Now settle back down."

Oh God, he knew.

He spanked her again across the other cheek, and then he did it again, and again. Each blow landed harder than the last, and she writhed at the rising throb of not only her ass but her clit as well.

Thwack.

The sound screamed through the room, bringing her total focus on him and his actions. The harder he spanked her, the more she wanted. Some of her fears began to crack under the onslaught as the throb between her thighs became unbearably insistent.
More, please.

The next blow landed harder than all the ones before it. She danced on her toes and wiggled away from him without moving her arms in the slightest. The scent of her arousal filled the room, betraying her for the deviant she'd become. The urge to beg him to fuck her began to beat at her brain until clamping her mouth shut no longer worked. With every smack to her ass, a flash of heat zinged straight to her pussy. Her arms and legs began to shake, and her moans erupted as fast as his hand landed on her backside.

She never questioned why any of this turned her on. Pain always did. Although never quite like this. God, he had to know how he affected her. How desperate she was for him to take her. The knowledge that he'd yet to slide his cock between her legs and take his pleasure drove her mad. She'd never felt so empty and desperate to be filled in her life. “Please, Daegan,” she begged. He ignored her plea and continued for five more painful swats. Her head buzzed until she felt faint, and the pain in her bottom began to turn numb.

He must have sensed her distress, because he stopped then, which gave her little relief when he stepped closer and the rough denim of his pants brushed across her flaming ass. She didn't miss the hard length of his erection he nestled between the split of her bottom. Nor did she miss the almost growl that rumbled at her ear.

"Yes, please.” Her plea was barely more than a whisper that only she may have heard.

"I could take you now, couldn't I?"

"Yes, yes.” She ached for him more than she'd thought possible. It didn't help he'd wedged his hand between them to stroke his fingertips across her heated and tender flesh. The excruciating pleasure undid her, but it was the weight of his body against her and his firm touches that made her realize he now possessed her. Whatever he wanted, she'd give him.

"Oh, Jennifer.” He rubbed his face into her hair and neck. “You have no idea how much I want to."

"Do it,” she pleaded. Desperation engulfed her. Jennifer pushed her backside into his hand.

The second he pushed away from her, she cried out. The loss of his weight left her feeling adrift. Until she heard the distinct sound of a zipper being released. She held her breath—waiting. When the smooth flesh of his cock head prodded her, she whimpered in relief. Finally.

Instead of entering her like she'd hoped, he pushed forward, only resting his dick along the seam of her ass.

"Do you think you've learned your lesson?” he asked.

"Yes. I know I shouldn't have walked out without talking to you. I won't do it again. Please,” she whimpered.

"I believe you.” He traced the curve of her breast and side until his hand halted on her hip. “Unfortunately for us both, you're not getting fucked tonight."

"What? No!” she cried. “Please, Daegan. I'm sorry."

He drew one last breath and pushed away from her. She heard his zipper go up and the rustle of him moving away from her. Tears threatened her, as did the need to touch herself. If he planned to leave her like this, she'd be forced to take care of her needs the minute he left her alone. A lone tear escaped and slid down her cheek. She wanted him. More importantly she'd wanted his forgiveness.

"Come over here to the bed.” The faraway sound of his voice pulled at her, beckoned her to do as he said. Jennifer pushed from the wall and turned to face him. Their gazes met. From the determination she spied in his vibrant blue eyes, she decided to keep her mouth shut and obey.
Obey
. Really the word still sounded so foreign to her. Not that it was wrong or anything, just so unfamiliar. She crossed the room and stood at the edge of the mattress. With the arousal now simmering instead of burning her alive, she realized how exhausted she was from the long day. Had it really only been one day? Their night in the Dark Room seemed like ages ago now.