"Uh-uh," I shake my head and he makes a show of waiting. I don't say stop, but I glare at him while he attaches the clamps to my nipples. A slight pinch, but my pussy pulses in sympathy. My breasts swell as if happy for the attention.
"Now." Lucius shakes out the flogger, and whips up and down my legs, warming them up, painting them pink. A few sharp snaps leave red lines on my thighs but no expected bloom of pain. Nipples throbbing, I greet the flogger's rough kiss eagerly.
"You like this?"
I'm breathing hard, the bloom of arousal growing. Lucius leans over me, covering me with his powerful body, and my very skin leaps at the thought of him touching me. I turn my face up to accept a kiss, but he pushes the flogger between my legs and rubs there.
"How about this? Do you like it?" Before I can answer in the negative, he holds the flogger up in front of my face. "Don't lie to me."
I can see as well as he can: the strands are wet.
"That doesn't mean anything," I growl.
"Of course it doesn't. Your body is beautiful, and it's a natural reaction. Just let yourself go, Selene."
I growl to myself. He's only in charge if I allow it.
As if he reads my thoughts, he steps forward and releases both nipple clamps at the same time. Pain shoots through me and detonates in my pussy. I sag in my cuffs.
"Hmmm," he murmurs, sounding pleased. I stiffen my legs and stand straight. A little pain won't best me.
A smile plays on his lip as if he gets my unspoken message, and thinks it's cute. He studies me carefully, checking me over.
"You ready to turn around? I'll work your back harder," he warns.
I raise my chin. "Do your worst."
Smiling to himself, he unties me and flips me around. "From here on out, I'm calling the shots." He steadies me, moving my arms and legs where he wants them. Again he tests my fingers and toes, making sure I have good circulation. He tucks my braid over one shoulder.
"You have a gorgeous ass," he tells me, running his hand down my back and flank, stopping to grab a handful. "So tight and plump and delicious. I can't wait to fuck it." With that little promise sapping the strength from my knees, he steps back and dusts my back with the flogger.
I press my forehead against the wood and relax into the rhythm. Left, right. Left right. Blood pumps, my breath flows in and out. Heat creeps over my back and ass. Lucius spends particular time flogging my butt until it's warm to touch. Still no pain.
"I wonder," he murmurs and snaps his implement so the ends bite between my shoulder blades. A sharp sting that fades almost as quickly as it came. Heat floods through my core.
"No," I blurt, in response to my building arousal.
"No?" Lucius asks. "Do you mean stop?"
My safeword. He's testing me.
I shake my head. "Keep going."
He makes a cluck of disapproval. "Are you in charge?"
"No, sir." I attempt to sound meek.
He makes a growly sound in his throat that makes my wolf shiver with ingrained submission, but he does return to flogging.
I grab the ties binding my wrists and hold on. Lucius lets himself off his self-imposed leash, flogging me with greater and greater fervor until I've pushed up to tiptoe. I'm not sure if I'm trying to get away from the lash, or trying to give him more skin to strike. My body is one long, smooth line secured to the cross, the blush moving across my body like a rose coming to bloom. I close my eyes and bow my head, still gripping the bindings tight. Behind me a harsh inhale, a grunt followed by the delicious snap are the only proof I'm not alone. I imagine Lucius' body leaning into the strikes, shoulders flexing, forearm hard as iron, face composed. I wish I could see him.
I wish I could rub my pussy on this polished wood. Every stroke carries me higher. The flogging continues, and I don't know when it happened, but suddenly I'm floating. I'm floating in a warm, pink patch of air.
"You're doing so well, Selene." The flogger's smooth handle touches my labia's soft folds, followed by his fingers. I whimper.
"You're so wet. So delicious. A juicy peach, I could just eat you." I flinch and he laughs. "Maybe later. Right now, this is all I want." He keeps rubbing and I twist out of reach.
"What are you doing?"
His arm snakes around, securing me so he can keep fondling me. He sets his chin on my shoulder and murmurs in my ear, "Does it feel good?"
My chest heaves as my orgasm floats closer.
"Ask me permission before you come."
I shake my head no, more for my own determination than response to him. No, I will not ask permission. No, I will not come.
"All right." He steps away and I sag forward, my body bowing at the loss. He wipes wet fingers on my ass before taking his spot behind me. The flogger flies again, stinging my back with the soft leather strands.
"It's your choice, pet. Always your choice."
How can that be true? How did I end up here, tied up willingly, dying for touch, sensation, anything. A soft touch. A stinging rain. Anything.
"You're a strong woman." The flogger thuds up and down my back. "You want to prove it. I understand. But, Selene"--He pauses to step close and trail the strands over my ass until tingles run up my spine--"there's nothing wrong with letting go. You want it." His voice deepens, darkens. "I want it. In bondage, you can fly free."