Releasing Kate (10 page)

Kate turned on her side and curled into a ball. The tears started slowly, just a trickle,
then
she started crying in earnest. She didn’t know how long she lay there, unable to obey his command. She didn’t want to be tied again but she desperately wanted the sensations he created. Sensations she hadn’t known existed. Her world was firmly focused on Michael.

As her tears subsided, she tried to explore what was happening. Why did she feel it was wrong to give in him? Why resist? Kate knew if he tied her again, he’d hurt her. But the pain hadn’t really been so bad, had it? Hadn’t it enhanced the pleasure? She’d never had orgasms like Michael generated. Worse, she had never realized how addictive sex could be. She felt deeply satisfied on a primitive level. Her body wanted more at the same time that her intellect was horrified.

Michael came back into the room and sat on the edge of the bed. He gently stroked her hair. She sighed as he leaned over and kissed her face.

He startled her when he said, “I’m sorry.”

Kate turned her head and looked at him.

“You’re so strong. I’ve never been with a woman as strong as you. My goal is not to break your spirit.” He shrugged.

“What is your goal then?” Kate asked. She wasn’t afraid, though she knew she wasn’t exactly physically safe. But she was emotionally safe, even as she struggled to sort out her conflicting thoughts and desires.

“You—just for this weekend.
I want you to please me with your willing surrender,” he replied. “Surrender to anything and everything I’ll do to you. You know I’ll take you places you’ve never been…hell, I already have.” He shook his head. “It’s hard because I know I can overwhelm you. I have to stop herself because I don’t want your consent simply because you’re overwhelmed and desperate for release. I want your consent because you are willing to explore the sexual being that lies just beneath your carefully controlled surface.”

“But that just makes me a sex object,” Kate protested. The attractive image he painted frightened her.

“No,” he answered. “As a Dominant, I often go unsatisfied to make certain your pleasure comes first.” He paused. Glancing down at her, he said, “So who is really in control?”

“I don’t understand why you need to tie me up. I don’t understand why you need to hurt me.”

“Pain and pleasure blend into one sensation in your brain,” he said as he stroked her head and captured a piece of her hair. He tugged on it just a little, letting her know it would really hurt if he yanked it. “The pain intensified your pleasure, didn’t it?” he challenged her. “Tell me that you didn’t feel more aroused than you ever have by not knowing when there would be pain or when there would be pleasure. Knowing that you didn’t have to do anything but feel and respond because I’d taken the control away from you. Tell me you didn’t like it.”

Kate stared at him. He was right. He’d conquered her in less than a weekend. Kate had read about the Stockholm syndrome. She knew what happened, how the victim fell in love with the captor because he provided all for her. Yet she seemed powerless to stop her longing. Emotionally and physically, she wanted more of what only he could provide.

“You’ve had just a small taste of the kind of sex I enjoy. Accept that fact. It is your choice if we ever have sex again.”

“But you’ll hurt me…”

He laughed, “Of course, that is the whole point. You have to know in every cell of your body that you belong to me and that I’ll take care of you. The pain helps that process but also know that I’m the only one who will ever
cause
you pain. You have to admit that I am not only physically stronger than you are but mentally stronger as well. I won’t accept anything less than total control.”

A wave of primitive fear and desire washed through Kate. “I’m not ready for that.”

“Yet you didn’t leave when I told you to go this time.
Why not?” he countered.

Kate closed her eyes to escape his implacable stare.

“Coward,” he whispered softly.

Yes, he was right. Kate was afraid—not of him but herself. Afraid she’d enjoy the surrender every bit as much as he promised. Part of her reveled in the way he’d led her down this path. She could tell herself he’d forced her. She’d been too innocent to understand his actions. Now she knew she could no longer lie to herself.

Kate wanted to surrender but she wasn’t sure how. She didn’t know how to turn off years of social training. Pain was bad. She wasn’t any man’s slave. Yet she couldn’t shake the image of him—dominating, demanding and relentless. Hateful actions she now longed for him to continue. She was an independent woman but did that mean she couldn’t fully explore her sexuality? How could she not pursue this attraction? Wasn’t sexual freedom part of the modern woman’s code? So why should she ignore what Michael offered?

“I don’t know how to give you what you want,” Kate said, struggling to make sense of her thoughts. Michael was intelligent. She knew he could help her through this dilemma. “I want to surrender but my mind keeps telling me an independent woman wouldn’t agree to this though I know I should be able to explore any kind of sexual relationship I want to explore. I don’t know how to resolve this.” Kate’s eyes roamed the hard planes of his face.

“It’s not the dilemma you make it out to be. Independence is fine for some…but not for you.” Michael smiled. “Think about liberation and what it has done to you. The work and stress-induced illnesses that used to belong mostly to men now affect women like you. You must make every decision for yourself, never being able to rely on another human being. And think about what that same liberation has done to the men in your life. I know the men you’ve been with before haven’t satisfied you. You are too stunned by the orgasms I’ve given you to have ever really known sexual satisfaction before.” His finger caressed her face. “You have no idea how your innocence undoes me. How exciting it is to watch you break loose of societal constraints.” He stood and started pacing the room. After a few moments, he stopped and stood motionless. “Do you believe I’ll take care of you in every sense of the word? That I’ll meet all your needs,
be
they mental or physical?”

“Yes,” Kate said, aroused by the thought of Michael providing for her.

“Do you believe I’ll keep you from harm?”

“Yes.” She couldn’t deny that he made her feel sheltered from all others.

“Do you think I can reveal parts of your sexuality that you didn’t know existed?”

“Yes.” He’d already proved that statement.

“Will you surrender to me?”

“Yes,” she answered without thought. When she realized what she’d said, she stared at him with horror.

“It’s that simple.” He smiled as he moved to the bed. He gently raised one of her arms, caressing its length before circling her wrist with silk. He repeated his actions on her other arm.

Lost in his eyes, Kate never even considered resisting.

“That is how you give me what I want.” He pulled back and looked at her. “Say it, say it all,” he demanded.

“Just do it,” Kate said, not wanting to wrestle with the logic demon anymore.

“Give me the words—all of them,” he whispered, his shoulders tight as he awaited her reply.

Perhaps having said yes once made it easier because this time Kate said, “I surrender.
For today only, I surrender to your will. Please take me.” Relief swept through her. She didn’t have to worry anymore. She didn’t have to make any more decisions. Her life was in his hands for now.

Chapter Ten

Michael moved to the foot of the bed. He pressed a carving on the bedpost, flicked open a control panel and held down a button. The bed canopy rolled to the side, revealing a ceiling full of ugly-looking metal devices.

Kate pulled her legs up to her chest and tried to free her arms.

Michael placed a hand on her shoulder and pushed her to her back. “Have you changed your mind?”

“What are those things?”

“Just toys.
Have you changed your mind?”

Kate looked at the ceiling then back to Michael. He raised his eyebrows.

Kate swallowed hard and mentally shook herself.
Time to stop prevaricating.
“No, I haven’t changed my mind.”

“Then relax and enjoy the ride,” Michael said as he reached up and pulled down two straps. He circled an ankle with his hand, lightly caressing it as he trapped it in a furred strap. He captured her other leg and pulled it straight before completing her bondage.

He reached over to the control panel and pressed another button. The straps attached to Kate’s legs tightened before pulling her legs upward and outward, leaving her open and vulnerable. Michael closed the panel and moved to the side of the bed.

“Tell me how you feel.”

“Scared, excited, vulnerable…”

“Empty?”

“Yes.”

“Good! You’re going to stay unsatisfied for a while. My satisfaction has been delayed long enough. Your body exists for my pleasure.” He tore off his shirt and dropped his pants. His erection, hard and thick, pointed toward Kate.

Kate squirmed and pulled at the ropes around her extremities.

Michael crawled onto the bed. He straddled her waist, putting his back against her legs. He laid his cock on her chest then pushed her breasts around it. Using his thumbs on her nipples, he pumped forward and back.

Kate gasped at the sensation. She’d never imagined a man using her breasts as a sheath for his cock or that such usage would be one of the most erotic things she’d ever felt. Her cunt clenched, needing him deep inside even as she didn’t want him to abandon her breasts. She groaned, aching and unfulfilled. He ignored her need.

Rocking back and forth against her chest, he pinched and twisted her nipples. As she gasped at the rough usage, Michael grimaced and sprayed cum into her mouth and over her face.

Before she could recover, he used a finger to push his cum into her mouth. “Swallow it all,” he growled.

Kate complied and as a reward, Michael turned his attention to her body.
Caressing, licking, biting and stroking her.
Relentless in his attentions.
Kate lost all sense of time. She screamed, mindlessly awash in the sensations he effortlessly created.

She strained against the bonds that held her. Still he didn’t satisfy her. The intense session of pleasure became painful. He kept her on the peak, mindless with arousal.
Unable to come but unable to relax.
She cursed his control even as she pleaded for satisfaction.

“Will you stay with me? Give me permission to keep you tied up forever,” he whispered.

“Yes!” Kate screamed. She’d agree to anything to relieve the pressure he’d built.

He smiled as he moved to fill her vagina, not with his cock, but with his fingers. “This might hurt a little. I’ll try to be careful,” he whispered.

With her legs still in the air, she lay spread open before him. He licked her clit before he slowly, inexorably drove his fingers inside her.

Kate felt herself stretching, widening in a desperate attempt to accept his hand. He was careful but it wasn’t enough. He hurt her. But she really didn’t care because he suckled her clit while he did it. She felt engorged by his fingers and she loved his possessiveness.

“That’s three fingers. I don’t think you can take anymore just now.”

He gazed at her and she returned his look. She’d never been so intimate with a man. Spread helpless before him, impaled by him and subsumed in his need. He rocked his hand back and forth a little as if to create more space.

Kate moaned. She wanted more and told him so.

“Are you sure?”

“Take me!” she demanded, not quite realizing what she was asking.

He slowly drew his hand back until just his fingertips were in her vagina then he slammed his fingers home, not being careful. He used all his masculine strength to penetrate her.

The pain became intense as he did it again and again and again. But she never dried
up,
instead she reveled in his power, climaxing with a force that knocked her senseless.

Awareness returned slowly. Her legs were lowered to the bed, his fingers still in her cunt. His head rested on her breasts. She longed to stroke his hair and touch his face. As if sensing her gaze, he raised his eyes and smiled.

“I want to touch you. Untie me.”

“You told me I could tie you up forever.”

Kate stared at him. “I was in the throes of arousal, I would have told you anything.”

“You surrendered when you weren’t aroused. You gave me permission. Do you really want to withdraw that permission, knowing that we’ve barely started your education?” he asked as he slowly withdrew his fingers and moved off her.

Not waiting for an answer he entered the bathroom and returned with a basin and a washcloth.

“If you untie me I can wash myself.”

“But it is so much more fun this way,” he said while gently wiping her body.

Kate remained silent as he finished.

Michael met her gaze and smiled. “I promise you’ll enjoy everything I do to you. Are you sure you want to withdraw your agreement? Think about it before you answer,” he said then he turned and left the room.

Kate stayed angry for a long time. Angry because she knew she could easily lose herself in him.
Angry that she already had lost herself in him.
And angry that he hadn’t pierced her with his cock.

Kate watched the sunlight creep around the room. Her throat became sore from screaming for him. She didn’t know where Michael had gone but he didn’t answer.

Hours later, he came back.

He took one look at Kate and left the room again. Returning in a moment, he brought her water. He lifted her head so she could drink through the straw. He noticed her hoarseness as she tried to yell at him.

“I forgot to tell you the room is soundproofed. I hope you didn’t scream too much.”

Kate glared at him and said, “Untie me. I need to use the bathroom.”

He shook his head. “Don’t you long to know what it would feel like to stay tied up?
To use a bedpan until I decide different?
To have me feed you?
To have me bathe you?
To know you no longer have to make any decisions, that you no longer have to do anything for yourself?”

“Damn you, let me go! I didn’t agree to this,” Kate hoarsely countered, frightened because she didn’t want to go free.

“Let me remind you again since you seem to keep forgetting. You surrendered when you weren’t aroused. You agreed to let me tie you up forever. If you really want to rescind that agreement, I’ll let you, provided you can tell me again in ten minutes. You know you aren’t fighting me. You’re fighting yourself and what your head tells you is right or wrong, not what your body says.”

Kate knew what he could do to her in that amount of time. He was right. She knew her head waged war with her body.

He lightly caressed her breasts, gently twirling her nipples in his fingers.

Kate couldn’t help it. She started crying. The game was becoming too real. “Please, let me go.”

Despite the unease and uncertainty warring within her, Kate found comfort when he crawled next to her and gently held her. Stroking her hair, he murmured, “You’ve already surrendered. Don’t back out now. You know you want an excuse to see how far we can go.”

Over and over again, he told her she was beautiful. He made her soar, as if her pain were caused by something other than him.

Kate struggled to make sense of what he’d done in one short weekend. “I need to get to work tomorrow.”

“No, actually you don’t. I left Eileen a copy of your resignation.” He smiled. “Eileen might be a little suspicious but she won’t do anything.”

Kate stared at him, horrified by the simplicity of his plan, knowing it would work.

“Besides,” he said, “there is so much more for you to experience. Aren’t you the least bit curious? Two months ago, you told me you’d never agree to pain, yet you did and you had violent orgasms. It was good, wasn’t it? We can go much further. Aren’t you curious as to how far I can take you?” He licked her ear and she shuddered, knowing part of her wanted to be with him any way and every way possible.

Before she could agree though, she remembered the book. She remembered some of the women and their positions of subjugation. Then she remembered the necklace and the woman who looked like her. She stiffened her resolve. “You’ve hinted before and now I want to know before we proceed. What do you know about my past?”

He stared down at her. “You’re clan, though you have no idea of what that means.”

“Clan?
Scottish?
And you still haven’t told me about that woman in the book.”

“Not Scottish.” He smiled. “And she’s your grandmother. She’s very anxious to meet you.”

“I have a grandmother? Why didn’t she adopt me? Why was I abandoned?”

“Are you sure you’re ready to hear about your family—your biological family?”

“You’ve no right to withhold information from me! Tell me!”

“Very well.
Have you ever felt stray desires? Desires that seem to come out of nowhere? And have you noticed that you can take more pain? You have more stamina? You’re stronger than normal women for one reason.”

“What reason?”

“So you can handle my desires and needs. So you can endure pain. So you can channel it into pleasure. That’s inherent in you.”

“That’s crazy!”

“Then why do you respond so intensely to anything I do to you? I recognized you as clan the first time I met you and you can’t deny the attraction between us. It’s our biology at work.”

“I know nothing about that! I was an infant. I was found in a wrecked, stolen car. A car that contained no clues to my identity except for the necklace my mother
wore,
the same one in the book. If I were part of some cult, why was I abandoned?”

“Your parents left Sanctuary.” He shrugged. “It’s not a prison. They chose to leave. No one knew your mother was pregnant. No one knew about you until now.”

“I want to see these people.”

“You will.
All in good time.”

“That’s not your decision.”

“Yes, actually it is my decision. Your grandmother accepts that and you will too. We need to solidify our relationship before I take you to them.”

“Why? What’s our relationship got to do with my ancestry?”

“You need to understand your heritage before meeting other clan men.”

“I don’t understand.”

“No you don’t. You haven’t grown up with the concept of domination and submission. I’m trying to give you a gentle introduction.”

“I don’t want your kind of sex!”

“No? You’ve already agreed to stay with me.”

“This is crazy. You need to let me go.”

“Not tonight. You’ve had a busy weekend. Tonight we’ll just sleep.” Michael freed Kate’s bonds and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close.

Kate’s mind raced but Michael felt warm and she fell asleep pulled close to his chest with his arms holding her tightly.

Kate woke to sunlight streaming in the window. She stumbled to the bathroom. Then she dressed and followed the scent of bacon to the kitchen.

Michael looked over his shoulder. “Sit down. Eat. It’s been a long weekend and we have a lot of work to do.”

“But…” Kate hesitated.

“But?”

“You said you were going to keep me tied up forever.”

“Yes, I did, and you believed me. Did it add to the sensation of being captive?”

“You didn’t mean it?”

“Oh I most certainly meant it when I said it. I would love to keep you tied up forever but how would that work? It just isn’t practical without your cooperation so I’ll have to let you leave. You are not ready.”

Irrationally, Kate smothered a sigh of disappointment. “Did you really leave my resignation on Eileen’s desk?”

“Yes, and that means I should get to work early and retrieve it before she sees it.”

“Michael…”

“Yes, Kate?”

“I want to meet my grandmother.”

“Not until you’ve accepted your ancestry.”

Kate frowned.

Michael sighed. “Kate, you’re making everything too complicated. You are made for me. You like what I did this weekend even if you’re not ready to admit it in the cold light of day. That’s okay. I can wait. I won’t force you. I won’t trick you. You’ve had a sample of what I like and how it affected you. Your ancestry won’t let you hide your needs. Sooner or later you’ll accept them. Now finish eating so we can get to work.”

Michael dropped her off at her apartment. “Take your time. I’ll cover for you,” he said before he drove off.

Two hours later, Kate entered the executive suite.

“How was your weekend?” asked Eileen brightly.

Kate shuddered, flashing back to the feel of Michael’s hands on her.

“Kate?”

“Oh it was fine. How was yours?” Kate asked, not waiting for a reply as she made her way to her office. She felt out of place. She didn’t belong here. She belonged in Michael’s arms. She sat down and stared at her computer, making no move to start it. Her phone rang, startling her back to awareness. She picked it up and heard, “My office now!”

Kate’s heart raced as she made her way to Michael’s office. He stood by the window. With his jacket off and broad shoulders backlit by the morning sun, he looked like an ancient warrior. Kate clenched her hands into fists. She ached to run into his arms.

“Close the door,” said Michael, his voice deep and gruff. “And lock it,” he continued as Kate moved to comply. “Kneel,” he said, pointing to a spot on the carpet. “Now raise your arms and lock your hands behind your head.”