Chapter Eleven

The last thing Raif should be doing was playing with a sneaky little sub, but he couldn’t let this slide. Part of him was concerned for Tyler because he knew the boy not only worshiped, but loved his Mistress. And if he didn’t love Laura, he at least cared for her deeply. He’d be shocked to find out that Laura would go to any ends to get him out of the picture. Worse, he’d be hurt.

And Raif refused to let that happen. If he had any say, Tyler would never find out.

Holding the door open to his condo, Raif watched Laura walk in and had to stop himself from telling her he’d changed his mind. He didn’t want her here. His home was the one place where he didn’t have to worry about all the bullshit that went on in the world. Jealousy and bitterness, always someone deciding you didn’t belong. Fine, Tyler’s situation wasn’t like the mess with the team—right now it was only one woman who didn’t want him around.

But that one woman could destroy the life Tyler had built for himself.

So could you, Zovko.

Yes, but the difference was, Raif would do everything in his power to avoid his boy facing the backlash of Pischlar’s sexual preference being exposed. Other than that, there was no risk. Even if Tyler’s interest involved nothing but curiosity, Raif would find a way to protect him.

From the team, the world…from her. His jaw hardened as Laura turned in place, taking in the crisp modern décor of his living room. The place had come furnished, nice enough for his needs since he couldn’t be sure how long he’d be in Dartmouth.

Stopping mid-spin, she smiled at him, a dimple he’d never noticed before denting her right cheek. “I’d ask if you planned to cut and run soon if I didn’t know you’re a hockey player.”

He snorted. “I suppose the proper answer would be ‘I plead the fifth’ since you are a cop.”

“I’m afraid not. We’re in Canada, so the laws are a little different.” She wrinkled her tiny nose and walked over to the steel and glass bookcase on the wall at the far end of the room. The center shelves were spaced far enough apart to accommodate his 27-inch flatscreen TV. His favorite hardcover books and several photos of his mother were spread across the tops shelves. Artifacts from all the places he’d been were on the lower shelves with photos of his father. Laura picked up the only photo of his parents with him as a boy—taken in Caro. “Let’s not talk shop. Are these your parents?”

Usually, Raif proudly nodded and told whoever cared to listen all about his parents travels. Friends or acquaintances, it mattered little. His parents had published books about everything from foreign politics to the conditions of hospitals across the globe. Their lives weren’t exactly private.

Still, sharing anything with Laura didn’t seem very intelligent. So he took the photo from her and replaced it on the shelf. “You’re not here to discuss my life, Laura.”

She went still. Bit the tip of her tongue. “No, I guess I’m not.”

“You implied you were trying to give Tyler ‘What he needs’. Is Chicklet failing him somehow?” Raif walked over to the plain, rectangular white leather sofa and sat. He put his ankle on his knee, his lip quirking up slightly as Laura began to pace.

Shaking her head, she stopped at the other side of the glass coffee table. “She gives him everything, but even she’s seen how much you have to offer.”

“Besides being a man who loves other men, I’m not sure what that could be.”

“You take his control.”

“So does she.”

“Why am I here if you’re not interested? I could give you a dozen reasons why you should give him a chance. He went from perfectly straight to considering something else because of you. Hell, he kissed one of his best friends!” She sneezed, and for the first time he noticed her nose was a little red. Not from the cold outside. “Damn him, probably why I’m sick.”

“Probably.” He reached over to grab the box of Kleenex he’d been using earlier that day from the end table and held it out to her. “It’s been going around.”

She turned away from him to blow her nose, whispering thanks when he held out a small trash can for her to toss the tissue. Then she groaned, sat on the other end of the sofa, and leaned sideways to rest her head on the back of the sofa. “Honestly, I don’t know why I came. I do think you and Tyler could be… It doesn’t matter. I’m pretty good at reading people and you’re not comfortable discussing this with me.”

You’re also very good at getting the reactions you want. The implication that she was ready walk out had him thinking of ways to get her to stay. Not for the reason she likely believed, but he had to keep a step ahead of her.

She thought she could sway his decision of not taking things further with Tyler. He was curious to see how far she was willing to go. He held out his hand, waiting until she’d set her wrist on his palm to speak. “Are you willing to do more than plead his case, Laura?”

Her lips parted and her gaze shifted away from him, then back, as though she considered her next move. “Why would anything I do make a difference?”

He gave her a lazy half-smile. “I can’t possibly keep you both. I believe Chicklet would object. There’s a good chance any interest he has in me will be temporary, which is the very reason why I had no intention of pursuing him. But to play with you both? The experience would be worth the risk of wasting my time.”

“I could agree to that.”

Of course you could. He inhaled roughly, in a way he hoped she took as arousal rather than bracing himself to do something he wasn’t entirely comfortable with. He wouldn’t fuck her, he had to have at least a fondness for a sub to be that intimate, but he could toy with her a little. Perhaps the right scene would give them the tentative bond he’d need to build with her to protect Tyler.

Be her partner in crime. Then Tyler will never be the victim.

The cold logic of the plan wasn’t enough. He couldn’t look at Laura, much less play with her, and remain completely detached. He used a finger to tuck a stray strand of soft, fawn-colored hair behind her ear and found his motivations changing. So often those in the lifestyle had hidden ghosts brought out with careful handling, bringing them peace that couldn’t be found with any kind of therapy. If he took Laura in hand, then spoke to Chicklet about the rift between her subs, maybe… Hell, he could be wrong, but either way, he would do no harm. In the end Chicklet would have two happy subs more than tolerant of one another.

Or she’d have only one. And she would understand why.

Dynamics like Chicklet had with Tyler and Laura could work, but didn’t always. Raif was drawn to Tyler and would care for him if the boy didn’t fit with the women in the end. But he wouldn’t hide his intentions from Chicklet. There were many ways they could make this work. He would be willing to share Tyler with his Mistress. If Tyler was open to it. Denying the possibility was in the past.

But first he had to eliminate the danger. In such a way that Chicklet wouldn’t see him as the enemy. Laura wouldn’t go for that. Not yet. So he would tread carefully, feigning that he liked her plan.

“Strip.” He kept his hand on her cheek and smiled at her, despite the uncertainty in her eyes. They were on his game plan now. And he had a feeling she would accept the new rules.

She rose too quickly. Glanced toward the door. Fisted her hands by her sides.

He waited for her to say no. She couldn’t do this. She’d gone too far and she’d changed her mind.

But she didn’t. Her shirt quickly hit the floor. Her bra, her jeans and panties, followed. She chewed at her bottom lip as he stood, but didn’t attempt to cover herself. Such a good little sub. His lips slanted with dark pleasure as he noticed the goosebumps on her pale flesh, up her arms and right over the swell of her luscious breasts. They would be heavy in his hands, soft as the rest of her, though he could tell there was considerable muscle under those feminine curves.

A woman who could arouse his body, no matter how jaded his thoughts. He arched a brow at the tiny smirk that flashed across her lips when she glanced down at the outline of his erect cock in his pants. His brain needed a little more blood flow to carry on with the scene. He stepped past her, beckoning her with a crook of his finger as he moved to the kitchen. An absent pat on the table and he went to the drawers to take out a few silk table linens. Long runners which would be perfect for his game. He dropped them on the table beside her, pleased that she was sitting up there with no need for further instructions.

As he left the room, he could feel her eyes on him. He went to his bedroom to fetch the two bracelets he’d purchased for a scene with a former sub, one who’d left him for a Dom who could offer a stable relationship, who had a normal nine to five job and wouldn’t leave her for weeks at a time.

Back then, he’d been relieved. He hadn’t been ready for commitment, but he’d aimed to make her happy. Now he couldn’t help but wonder if he could walk away so easily.

From Laura? Yes. He didn’t see himself getting too attached to the scheming sub. But Tyler?

Tyler isn’t here. Focus.

Thoughts of the boy usually got him hard as fucking granite. But one thought of what this whole scene was about had his dick soft and his mind perfectly clear. There was an edge to his tone as he stepped up behind Laura and fisted his hand in her hair to make her lay down on the table. “Choose a safe word, girl. Not the same one you use with your Mistress.”

“Off…” Laura blinked and stared at the wall. “Officer down.”

Damn it! With a deep breath he reached out take her hand. “We can end this now. Perhaps it’s a bad idea.”

“No! No, I just wanted to use something we’d both remember.” She offered him a hesitant smile. “I’ll probably just use ‘red’ if I need to stop the scene, but if I’m in a bad place, saying that will make it clear. I know how this works. I’m not saying it now. I want to do this.”

“Good. But I won’t give you any reason to say either words.” He slipped the bracelets over her wrists. She gave him a questioning look as the tiny bells jingled. He chuckled. “I don’t want to hear these until you can’t hold yourself still any longer.” He lifted one silk runner, a deep red that contrasted nicely with her creamy flesh, and draped it over her breasts. “Do try your best not to move or make a sound unless I ask you a question.”

Her only answer was a quick nod. Her sharp intake of breath as he tapped her thigh and had her lift her butt made him smile. She shuddered as he covered her glistening pussy with the silk, black and gold this time, wrapping it around her hips and tucking the end under the fabric at her pelvis. The bells made a soft sound as she shivered, but he pretended not to notice.

“So pretty. I see you, and I think of what I know, and I can’t help picture you as untouched by any man.” He circled the table, briefly letting his fingers trail along her ribs, then down her thigh. “Chicklet claimed you, and then there was no other.”

“There were others. Whoever Chicklet chose and…and Tyler.” She didn’t move. The bells didn’t sound. She had control of herself. The shivering had stopped. “Tyler touches me all the time.”

“Does he, pet?” Raif let the sound of his footsteps as he circled the table, let her anticipation of where he’d touch her next, do the work for him. Hearing Tyler’s name on her lips made his blood run cold. He should have chastised her for speaking without being questioned. He wouldn’t let it slide again. “Do you even feel him when he touches you?”

She pressed her eyes shut. “Sometimes.”

“Then it doesn’t count. None of them count.” He put his hand on her throat with just enough pressure to make her aware of the potential threat. “My touch won’t be so easily dismissed.”

Her feet shifted on the edge of the table. She turned to face away from him.

“Don’t turn away from me.” He kept his expression neutral when she looked at him. “Keep your eyes closed.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“That was not a question.” He brought his fingers to the edge of the silk covering her breasts. Flicked the edge of the material. “Are you always this contrary?”

She shook her head, opened her mouth, closed it. Poor girl was confused. She swallowed hard and wet her lips. “I’m not trying to be. I always follow commands perfectly, but I accept whatever punishment you decide on for my breaking the rules.”

“I find that interesting. You ‘follow commands perfectly’. That would speak highly of how well your Mistress trained you, but between what I’ve seen here and Tyler’s behavior, she’s been quite lax in both your discipline. I think—”

Laura sat up, rage flashing in her eyes, the bells jingling as she held the red silk to her breasts and sputtered in indignation. “How dare you—she’s a perfect Domme! I do everything she asks of me, she’s taught me well, and she’s tried to teach him. He’s a silly boy and you’ll see how much trouble he is! Not that it will matter because he gets away with everything!”

“Are you saying ‘red’, my dear? Because, again, there was no question in anything I said.” Now he was being cruel, but he already had a better idea of what he was working with. And he wouldn’t tread any further without testing for emotional landmines. “’Yellow’ will suffice, but you will stop shouting at me.”

Her eyes widened in shock. She glanced back at the table, then brought one hand up to cover her mouth. She bowed her head and dropped her hands to her thighs as she whispered, “I’m sorry, Sir.”

“We must discuss this. Say the word.”

“Yellow.”

“Good girl.” He cupped her chin and gently forced her to lift her head to meet his eyes. “Would you prefer we not discuss your Mistress during our scenes? Is that a trigger?”

“No, of course not. I don’t think we need to, but it’s not a trigger.” She bit her bottom lip. Sighed irritably. “I don’t want to discuss him.”

Raif knew exactly who she meant, but he feigned ignorance. “Him?”

She frowned at him. “Tyler.”

“If it’s not a trigger, then I don’t really care what you want. You came to my house to convince me I should give him a chance. Perhaps even attempt to take him for my own?” Raif arched a brow at her nod. “You’re naked on my table, offering yourself to me, as part of the deal. Not discussing him is ridiculous. I’d want details if I was buying a car.”

“He’s not a car.” She rolled her eyes and snickered as though the very idea amused her. Bad behavior for a sub, but they were in negotiations. He’d just have to make her pay for it later. But then she grinned at him. “More like a wild colt that will eat from your hand, but won’t let you mount him.”

He threw back his head and laughed. Maybe the analogy wasn’t quite accurate—seemed to depend on the day with Tyler—but Laura joking about him fucking the boy so casually? Damn it, he could honestly like her if not for the scheming. And he didn’t even want to think about that now.

“Well, it would be smart of me to check his teeth before purchase. If he were a horse instead of a hockey player.” Raif reached around to tug her elastic from her hair and let the soft length spill free. “Is he prone to using them?”

She giggled, such a sweet, unexpected sound. “He does bite sometimes.”

“Do you?”

Her cheeks became nice and red at the implication. She inhaled sharply and her entire demeanor changed, less passively submissive than before. Even her tone held more eagerness to please. “Shall I show you, Sir?”

They were both ready to continue, so he smiled and shook his head, feeling more at ease as he pushed her back down to the table. “Not yet, little mouse. Hands over your head. Imagine your wrists are bound to the top of the table…” He gave her a moment to place her arms and legs as she’d had them before. Then he ran his finger up the underside of her arm. She trembled and a faint jingle sounded. Perfect. “I’m surprised you haven’t asked about the bells on the bracelets.”

She opened her mouth. Her brow furrowed and she pressed her lips together.

“Much better. Now shall we try this again?”

She nodded.

“Good. Now no more questions, not another word from you unless absolutely necessary.” He moved to stand near her head and shook one of the bracelets even as he dragged the silk off her breast with a fingertip, using the edge of the material to tease her erect nipples. “I want to hear music whenever it feels good, Laura. Each and every time I give you pleasure, I want to hear the bells sing.”

Another nod from her and he caught both her wrists in his hand, making any movement difficult, taking away her ability to easily sound the bells. He licked a fingertip and drew a slow circle around her nipple. She squirmed. Her wrists twisted in his grip.

He smiled as he bent down to kiss her cheek. “Let’s see how ‘perfect’ you are at following the rules now.”

* * * *

The kiss on her cheek was yet another thing Laura wished she could jingle the bells for, simply for what the tender gesture, with the taunting words, did to steal away her last grip on control. When Raif claimed her lips she tasted his power as though the flavor was the spicy cinnamon on his tongue. She hadn’t noticed the scent before, but now it came with every breath and spread through her with a subtle, delicious burn. A moan escaped her as he wrapped his hand around her throat again and deepened the kiss, letting her savor him as he dipped his tongue in, drawing back to nip her lip, then thrusting in again in a way that was no less than him fucking her mouth.

He shifted and covered her breasts with his hands, squeezing both hard, letting out a low laugh as she gasped into his mouth. An exquisite pain, delving deep and bringing on an onslaught of pleasure. She squeezed her thighs together as the ache inside her grew. A faint sound made her hazy brain think of Tinkerbell sprinkling fairy dust.

Damn Disney movies. She cried out as Raif pinched her nipples hard and her back bowed.

Tinkle! Jingle!

Pain and sweet music. She gripped the edge of the table as he kissed over her stomach, going lower and lower. He nipped the flesh of her belly. Bit down hard on her hip. Her body shuddered and the soft sound of little bells continued. Part of her remained with the sound, only a small part, the rest let the pain wrap around her, reveling in how quickly the dull ache shifted to a lulling pleasure.

Pleasure…

The rules. She remembered the rules and released the table to wiggle her wrists. The bells on the bracelets let out an erratic jingling. His hand pressed against the material covering her pussy. Slick and smooth and pressing into her with his thick fingers.

More…

She clenched down, crying out when another finger pushed into her back hole. His teeth were tugging on her nipple, stretching it. His fingers went deeper inside her. He hadn’t said a word in so long, but she didn’t need to be reminded what to do as the pleasure overwhelmed her senses and she came undone.

The bells sang and she choked in air, aching and being filled and leaving her mind to the music as she thrashed and the erotic sensations tore through her. Raif drew her up and held her close as he pressed his fingers and the silk in all the way. The sound that escaped her was either a moan or a sob muffled against his chest as he drew the sensations out to the very end.

Once she’d stopped shuddering, he took the silk away and tossed it on the floor. He took her in his arms, carrying her to his bedroom. Gentle, his words kind, but for some reason she couldn’t forget the way he’d stepped on the delicate material as though it was nothing. As though he’d discard it now that it had served its purpose.

Early the next morning, she woke to Raif pulling away from her. She stared at his back as he changed his clothes. He’d slept in his pants, but he’d held her close. Nothing had felt wrong until now.

“Do you need me to go?” She wrapped her arms over her chest, using the sheet to cover herself. She hadn’t done a thing for him. Maybe that was why this felt wrong. All the pleasure had been hers. “I’m on the night shift, so—”

“Laura, look at me.” Raif came to the bed and cupped her cheeks in his hands. “I believe I understand who you are as a sub. I won’t have you thinking you failed last night. I took exactly what I wanted from you.”

That was…good. She tugged at her bottom lip with her teeth and frowned. “What does that mean?”

He laughed. “It means I will enjoy your sweet submission again. Your body.” He ran a hand down her thigh. Then kissed her lips and smiled. “And your mouth.”

Exactly what she wanted, and yet—it wasn’t why she’d come here. “But Tyler—”

“I agree to your terms. You’ve convinced me.” His laugh this time sounded strange. But his gaze was level and firm, leaving her with no reason to question him. “I’ll give him a chance. He’s worth it.”

Good. This is good…right? She kept thinking it over and over, but she was too tired and Raif made it so easy not to worry too much. There was only one thing left for her to do. She smiled back at him. “I’ll encourage him to give it his all. He’s so close to—”

“No.” Raif’s tone was sharp. His hands fisted by her hips. He pressed his eyes shut and inhaled roughly. “I appreciate your…intentions, but leave him to me. Be kind to him. Act as though he’s a man you’ve shared two years of your life with. Even if it’s hard—Laura, you will act as though only the good times matter, regardless of what you and I have agreed to.”

Easy enough. She relaxed as Raif pulled her into his arms and kissed her shoulder. She could tell he wanted to go, but didn’t assume it was because he didn’t want to be around her. She understood responsibilities. He had them with the team and she wouldn’t be a needy woman after all he’d given her. All he still would.

There was no need for guilt seeing as how everything would work out. Raif cared for Tyler and she didn’t have to worry that the boy would get hurt. As a Dom, Raif clearly knew what he was doing. As a person he was honorable and considerate. Gentle in his own way.

Any concern she’d had was gone. She waited until she was dressed to say the last thing she was sure he needed to hear, just before she left.

“I care about Tyler.” She zipped her jacket and wrapped her hair in a tight bun before opening the door, ready to leave. “I’m glad he’ll have you. And I’ll make sure he’ll have good memories of the last days we spend together.”

Raif hugged her again, his hold almost rough, but comforting. He rested his chin on the top of her head, his tone level. “That’s all I ask, Laura. And I don’t think you’ll disappoint me.”