Cherise Sinclair - My Liege of Dark Haven

Once finished, he pulled Abby onto his lap. She didn’t rouse except to moan when her sore ass rubbed over his jeans. She’d have trouble sitting for a while.

His smile faded as he thought of Greta, who’d used the chance to vent her spleen. He’d have to keep an eye on her. A warped submissive could be as destructive to a club as a bad Dom, turning a supportive atmosphere into emotional hash. It was another reason he’d lengthened the application process, closer to that of the BDSM club he’d visited in Florida. Of course, he had no intention of making Dark Haven as exclusive and expensive as the Shadowlands. The local lifestylers here came from all walks of life.

In the wading pool two puppies engaged in a tug-of-war with a piece of knotted rope. Another jumped in and used its needle-sharp milk teeth on a sibling, netting a loud squeak.

Abby opened her eyes. “What?” She tried to sit up and hissed as the movement rubbed her abused ass.

“Relax, pet. It’s just puppy wars.” As his members had earlier, the pups returned to playing happily, all transgressions forgiven. Although he and Abby needed to discuss the night, he’d achieved his goal, and she was back in the good graces of the club.

He’d also lost the last sense of betrayal that he’d harbored.

As her brows drew together, he traced one delicate, silky arch with his fingertip. “Why are you holding me?” she asked.

“Because I wanted to.”

Her lips quirked. “Arrogant Dom.”

“That’s right.” He smiled into her eyes. “Now that you’re awake, I want to check you over.” Despite her grip, he pulled open the blanket. Her nipples had a few red splotches from the suction machine. Good thing he’d set it to low. Smiling at her squirms, he pushed her legs apart and inspected her clit. Still swollen but improving.

“On your feet.” He helped her rise and then slapped her legs lightly. “Open for me.”

Her mouth dropped open—he hadn’t shown her much dominance outside the bedroom. Then she complied. Watching her face, he ran a finger around her entrance and pushed in, past the puffy tissues. She winced. Withdrawing, he glanced at his finger. No blood. “How sore are you?”

“Not bad.” Her face flushed. “I still can’t believe you used a…a machine on me.”

He laughed and turned her around so her back was to him. “Bend over, hands on your ankles, knees bent.”

She didn’t move.

He lowered his voice. “Now, pet.”

She complied quickly. Good little submissive. She had a bruise across the right buttock, probably from the higher percentage of right-handed people wielding the paddle, and her ass cheeks were red and slightly swollen. They would heal.

Parting her sore buttocks, he ignored her whimper. Her asshole was red, but again had incurred no damage. “Looks good, but you’re going to be sore for a day or so.” He rose and helped her straighten. “There are ice packs in the freezer. Use them.”

“Yes, sir.” To his surprise she leaned into him, her forehead pressed against his shoulder.

He wrapped his arms around her. “What?”

“Did you like seeing me…? The machine and the other men?”

He rocked her. It was the same question he’d intended to ask her.

Odd that few subs or slaves ever asked him if he enjoyed something. Perhaps they thought a Dom never did anything he didn’t like. But that wasn’t true. A D/s relationship was a two-way street. His subs occasionally had to do what they didn’t like. So did he, if the submissive needed it.

“I enjoy showing you off,” he said. “It’s a competitive male trait: see the pretty submissive I have.”

His little professor snorted. “Testosterone-ridden animals.”

“I like smacking your tender, round ass. I enjoy seeing other Doms paddling their submissives. I didn’t like them paddling you.” He rubbed his chin over her hair, trying to explain. “Part is protectiveness. No one should hurt you. Although I’m the one who arranged the punishment, I found it difficult to see you in tears.”

She didn’t speak, but her arms came around him.

“Part of it’s territorial. You’re mine, and I rarely let anyone touch what’s mine. For the fucking machine, I’ve rewarded submissives with it before, and I’d enjoy using it on you if I was at the controls.”

“Huh.”

But he’d let others do that, and guilt still hung like a cloud over him. “I’m sorry, Abby. This was the only way I thought might mend your relationship with the members. I could have punished you in front of them, but they needed to participate in order to forgive you.”

“I understood that.”

He waited for more and only received silence. “Tell me how you felt.”

She stiffened.

Her defenses had risen. Regretting the necessity, but not about to let her hide from him, he administered a stinging swat to one very tender area.

Her outraged squeak made him grin.

He really did enjoy the feel of a round ass under his hand. “Answer me. Honestly.”

When she didn’t answer, he lifted his hand again.

“I hated being paddled and having those…people…using stuff on me. I don’t know if I’d like the machine if you did it, but I didn’t like them.”

“Good girl. Why didn’t you answer me the first time?”

She gave him a disbelieving stare. “More questions?”

“You’re a forthright person, unless you’re afraid someone will yell at you. Did you think I’d get angry at your answer?”

Her gaze dropped, and she bit her lip. “Not angry.”

“What did Nathan do when you told him something he didn’t want to hear?”

He might have missed the tiny flinch, except she was plastered against him. “Nathan was open-minded about anything except intimate things.”

“I see. And?”

“If I didn’t like something, he acted as if I’d insulted his…dick. He’d get cold. Sarcastic.”

“Ah.” One of those who believed I’m a Dom. I can do no wrong. “Abby, if I ask you a question, I want a truthful answer, even if I don’t like it. Trust me. I’ll be angrier if you aren’t honest. Is that clear?”

On his shoulder her head moved up and down.

“As long as we’re speaking of intimate things, I noticed you’re on the pill. Since our medical tests are both clean, do you have any objection to me not using a condom?”

“All right.” Her shoulders tensed. “But if there’s anyone else…”

The thought of her being with another man was unpalatable, but she’d posed a fair question. “Use a condom with the other person. And then I will also, until the testing is repeated.”

“Good.”

His mouth tightened. She hadn’t made any objections about the possibility that there would be others for either of them. Well…that was good.

The sound of her stomach growling diverted him. “You didn’t eat much today, did you?” Too nervous. “Let’s go get you some soup.” He smiled down into her big gray eyes. “We’ll eat in the media room, and this once you can even pick the movie.”

Her mouth rounded up, giving him a hint of the dimple at the corner of her mouth. “I feel a real need for a chick flick.”

He chuckled. “Vengeful little pet.” As she headed into the media room, tucking the blanket around herself, he watched in admiration. Another submissive might have spent the night in his arms weeping. The professor had more stamina and guts than he’d realized.

And a vicious sense of humor. If she picked something like Runaway Bride, he’d make her suffer.

As the chimes rang through Xavier’s house, Abby hurried to open the door. Yesterday she’d asked Rona over. Forgiven or not, Abby feared she’d damaged their friendship. She swung the door wide. “Hi—”

“Hey,” Lindsey said from where she stood beside Rona. “I asked if I could tag along.” Her smile was tentative. “I don’t want to lose you.”

With a huge sigh Abby hugged them both. “Thank you for coming.” She blinked back happy tears.

“Don’t you start leaking, or I will too.” Lindsey’s eyes reddened.

“Right.” Abby motioned. “Come on in. I made éclairs so we can get a sugar high.” As she entered the living room, the puppies started to whine.

Lindsey spotted the tiny heads peeking over the edge of the wading pool. “Oh my blessed Jesus, look at them.” She dropped to her knees beside the pool.

As her streaky brown hair fell forward, the puppies took it as an invitation to play, jumping and trying to grab the curls. She laughed and lifted Tippy. “Aren’t you just the sweetest baby?” she crooned, cuddling the brown ball of fur.

“Want a dog?” Abby asked.

“More than I can say, but I just signed a lease for a new apartment.” She wiggled her eyebrows hopefully. “I’m moving in a week, if y’all feel like carting boxes around.”

“No couches or beds to carry?” Rona asked. She crouched beside Lindsey and picked up Freckles.

“No. Where I’m living now was furnished, so I’m fixin’ to buy furniture for my new place. Finally.”

Abby joined the other two on the floor. Blackie’s tail wagged furiously. “Hey, snookums.” Puppy breath and a deadly fast tiny tongue and squirms and wiggles. “You are the sweetest baby.”

“Oh, they all are.” Lindsey chose Blondie. “Isn’t it going to break your heart to let them go?”

“It’s hard,” Abby admitted, smiling down into soft black eyes. “It’s worse when one grabs you, like this one.” She planted a kiss on his fuzzy nose. “Maybe it’s because his eyes are the same shade as Xavier’s.”

Rona laughed, then gave Abby a keen look. “If you’re falling for a puppy because of a resemblance, I’d say you’re also falling for the man. And you are living here now, aren’t you?”