Liberated Heart: Windy City Book Three Read online

  He took the seat beside her and hauled her against his chest. His skin was warm, his arms firm as they wrapped around her. She took a deep breath, inhaling his scent—clean, natural, like he'd just stepped out of the shower. After a few minutes, she pulled back, swiping some of her hair behind her ear. He watched her, his eyes full of concern and desire.

  "I'm okay," she said.

  He grinned a boyish grin. "I'm going to pack up. Did you bring your bag?"

  "It's in the dressing room."

  "Once I'm packed, I'll take you over there to get dressed."

  She nodded again. She'd be going home now? He hadn't even reached any sort of physical fulfillment.

  "Okay. I probably missed the last train, so I'll need a cab," she said, speaking more to herself. Turning to face her, he crouched down. With his eyebrows lifted and a deep crease in his forehead, he peered at her.

  "I didn't ask you to bring a bag so you could go home. I asked you to bring a bag because I'd like you to spend the weekend with me. The whole weekend." His hands rested on her knees. "But before you answer, you need to consider it seriously. If you come home with me, the moment you step into my house, you belong to me. Completely. You'll eat when I say, sleep when I say, and fuck when I say."

  She touched his face, letting her fingertips trail his jaw. Such strength. The lighting of the room cascaded across in such a way that his eyes were shielded in the shadows, making his piercing stare even more prominent. If he thought the action odd, he didn't say.

  "Okay." A weekend getaway? Sure, she could use one. She could put off thinking about what to do with the house and the rest of her life until Monday. A full weekend distraction sounded perfectly fine with her.

  "Don't give me your answer yet. When you're dressed. Not until then." He went to the table and began to pack up his things. She wondered who had laid them all out for him to begin with. It was then that she slowly remembered where they were. People were all around them. The bustle of the room suddenly drowned out her own thoughts. For a while, she'd been able to tune out the noise, the crowd. She'd orgasmed in front of these people. Had anyone stopped to watch?

  She didn't have time to dwell on the horror of that thought. Bradley handed her a bottle of water and held out his hand for her. Slipping her hand in his, she let him lead her out of the room.

  As rebound dates went, this one was going pretty well.

  Chapter 7

  Bradley checked with a few of the staff members while Erin changed into a new outfit—one that was still in one piece. The fundraiser had superseded its goal during the first round of the auction. The auction had finished while he and Erin were in the back room, the stage turned over for a few demonstrations. He had originally planned to stick around so Erin could watch the rope demo, but the discomfort in his pants overruled.

  He had expected her to be open to what he planned. She'd shown enough determination to make him believe she wouldn't back down at the first challenge. Her level of effort, the utter submission to his rule, to his application of pain and pleasure, had caught him a little off guard. Although he had planned on using the flogger on her in a soft, gentle manner, when he had her in front of him, her eyes so big and curious, he decided to go a different route. Her moving out of position hadn't been a disappointment at all; it opened the door for him to be rougher.

  Years had passed since he’d taken on a new sub, but he didn't doubt he could bring her into his world with a patient hand. She needed to discover the things she liked, and to do that, she'd probably have to go through some things she didn't. Weeding through it all would help her when she went on to find her Dom. That was what he was doing after all—helping her get over the ass who left and giving her the confidence to move forward. It was a civil service, really. The fact his stomach soured at the idea of some other man touching her in any way was simply a reaction to having his dick so damn hard. He'd find relief soon enough—the moment they entered his house.

  "Bradley." Claudia brushed her hand over his chest before resting it on his forearm. "There was some guy looking for that girl you bought." The venom in her tone wasn't missed. He'd have to have that talk with her sooner rather than later. Claudia was a casual playmate. He'd never given her reason to believe otherwise, but the poison in her tone suggested he may need to make it clearer.

  "Did he give his name?" Bradley searched the room, then glanced at the closed door to his office.

  "I don't remember." She gave a carefree shrug. "One of Alex's friends, I think. After he asked about you, he ran off to Alex's office. I thought you should know. She may be taken already." The jealousy in her eyes was mirrored in her sneer.

  "Is Alex in his office?"

  "I don't know. Didn't I mention I was going to be on the auction block tonight?" She changed tactics, running her hands over his shoulders and down his arms with wide eyes and a pouting grin.

  "You may have mentioned it." He looked back toward his office. Erin stepped out, her eyes scanning around the room. A shiver shot through him when their stares locked. She smiled, a warm, genuine, happy-to-see-you smile. Her eyes moved, and the smile dropped. A small move, a twitch perhaps, but he'd seen it. Following her gaze, he realized Claudia had slid her hand through his arm, effectively hanging off of him while she continued to prattle on about the guy who'd purchased her—an old flame who wouldn't leave her alone.

  He quickly untangled himself and gave her a stern look. She'd kept talking, not even bothering to notice his irritation.

  "That's too bad. Have a good night." He forced a nod, then moved toward Erin.

  "Hey." Her smile widened as he approached, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

  "All covered up again." He shook his head at her jeans and flowing blouse.

  "I thought I'd be taking the train home." She moved her bag to her other hand. "I don't want to take you away from anything." He followed her gaze over his shoulder to where Claudia stood with a few other girls, shooting vexing stares at them.

  "I'm not with her," he said with more force than he had intended, but he needed her to know he wasn't that sort of guy. One woman at a time was all he needed.

  "It's okay. You don't owe me anything." That damn smile again. He'd give her a spanking if she kept up that pretense. It obviously bothered her to see Claudia draped on his arm. He couldn't blame her for that; he'd probably punch a guy in the face if he dared to touch her in his presence.

  He did his best to check his irritation, but from the look she was giving him, he figured she could see it just fine.

  "My car's in the garage." He took her hand and led her toward the kitchen. They'd leave through the employee entrance. He wasn't sure who had seen her on the auction block, but if any of her friends were here, they'd want to delay their departure. He couldn't allow that.

  Thankfully, she didn't give him any trouble as he pulled her into the stairwell. He would need her cooperation once they reached the door leading out into the street. He'd held back during their little play session in the dungeon. She'd taken everything he'd given with more grace than he’d expected. He would have understood more apprehension, more withdrawal, but she gave back every ounce of energy he put forth. It made for an intense scene for him, to draw out her energy and use it against her. Each little flinch fed his desire to give her more, to take more from her.

  When they reached the landing, he paused at the door.

  "Erin." He turned her to face him. He picked up both of her hands and ran his thumbs over the leather cuffs still in place. She hadn't taken them off. He wouldn't read anything into that action—not if he was going to let her go come Monday morning. "Erin, if you come home with me, I need you to understand I take total control. There is no compromise with me. It's my way. It's the only way. I'm not a complete asshole, so you'll have to trust everything I do or say is as much for your benefit as mine. Except for when it's solely for mine." He tried to soften his speech with a grin, but she looked confused.

  "If I want to leave, I can?"
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  "Yes, of course. Whenever you want to leave, you just say so. Your desires have importance, and I would never hold you or anyone against their will."

  She gave a warm laugh. "I didn't think you were kidnapping me. I just meant, if it gets to be too much, I can stop it? I can go home, and you won't hate me?" Worry flashed in her eyes..

  "I don't think I could ever hate you," he found himself answering before he had a chance to filter his response. As true as it was, the proclamation was too close to deeper feelings than he could allow. His relationships didn't last long, they couldn't, and he needed to keep reminding himself that. Hoping for the impossible only led him down a dark path.

  "Okay. I said I wanted to give this my all, so let's do it. I am yours for the weekend." "Okay." He quickly undid the buckles on the cuffs and peeled them from her wrists. She watched his movements with questions in her eyes, but he left them unanswered. Shoving the cuffs into his bag, he reached in farther to grab what he was looking for.

  "I'm never very bold in public, but for this moment, I'll risk it. I want to be sure you understand that when you leave here, you aren't leaving here the same way you came in." He showed her the silver chain bracelet before wrapping it around her right wrist and clasping it. "From this moment until Monday morning, you belong to me." The words were accentuated by the click of the thin leash he attached to the bracelet. This one had a more dainty quality to it than the one he’d used upstairs. Pretty. If he were to drop it and let it dangle off the bracelet, it wouldn't look like a leash at all. He wound the loose end of the chain around his palm, once, twice, three times, until there were only a few scant inches of slack between his hand and her arm.

  "Where did you say your car was?"

  "Right across the street." He swung the heavy door open, and the humid night welcomed them as he gave her a little yank. She kept her head down as she followed him. He figured she was trying to keep from being recognized by the line of people still trying to get into the club. His club thriving satisfied his needs of the moment: financially, and the need to give her a tiny taste of humility.

  The ride back to his house was silent. She seemed preoccupied with the traffic outside her window, and he decided to give her a little space. There would be plenty of time to encroach on her thoughts. Once inside his house, she wouldn't be allowed secrets.

  "Where do you live?" She turned her head to watch the skyscrapers pass them by.

  "Another fifteen minutes," he said, turning down Lake Shore Drive. She continued to look out the window, ignoring his presence. Avoiding him in order to ignore her own nervousness?

  "How was work?" He pushed them into a neutral zone.

  "Work? Oh, good." She bent over to grab her phone from her purse. Her finger swiped over the screen, and he could see several messages on her phone.

  "Everything okay?" he asked when she began to mumble to herself.

  "Yeah, just a few text messages." She clicked the button on the side of her phone and tossed it back in her bag.

  "Do you need to answer them?"

  "No, it's fine." She looked back out the window.

  He turned into his drive and heard her intake of breath as they made their way through the overpass of trees and came out into the clearing where she could plainly see his house. The fifty-four-hundred square foot home he grew up in was surrounded by a small forest that kept most of the noise and sights of the city out.

  "This is your house?" She looked at him, then back to the house.

  "It's just a house." He pressed the button on his console to open the main gates.

  She gave a grunt and leaned back in her seat. "I assume the club isn't your only source of income then?"

  "My parents bought this house. When they passed away, it became mine," he told her, pulling the car up to the front door. "George usually drives me, but I didn't want to make you uncomfortable, so I took the car out myself." He parked the car and unbuckled her seatbelt. "Erin, look at me."

  Her dark brown eyes turned to him, a half smile on her lips. He cupped her chin, running his finger over her bottom lip. Then he kissed her. A soft, no-pressure kiss. "Last chance to say no," he said, picking up the leash still attached to her bracelet.

  "Not on your life," she whispered.

  "Good. Don't move." He threw open his door and rounded the car, yanking her door open. "Give me your leash." He held out his hand. She raised her arm toward him, and he shook his head. "No. Not your arm, your leash. Pick up the chain and hand it to me."

  She lifted the chain with her left hand and held it out to him. "Like this?"

  "Yes. When we get inside, you'll take your clothes off at the front door. I won't always make you remain nude, but I want to see your body tonight—to bask in the marks I left on you." She nodded, seemingly unable to come up with a response.

  He helped her out of the car and led her up the steps to the front entrance. "George will get the bags when he puts the car away. He's the only one who's here, and once he puts the car away, he'll leave."

  "You keep him here to put away your toys?" The tease was in her voice, but the tremor told him more of the truth. She was nervous. Once they were at the door, he turned to face her.

  "George stayed to put the car away because until his babies are tucked in the garage, he can't sleep." Without looking away from her, he opened the door and gave a nod for her to enter.

  They stepped into the front hall, which once was full of decadence. Without his mother's good taste, the house rapidly turned into a bachelor's home. Some of the original lighting and artwork remained but gone were the knick-knacks. As a child, he was forever being told not to play in this room or that because of all the things he could break if he were to bump into a table. As an adult, and in his own home, he did not want to fear breaking some priceless Hummel piece his mother picked up during a vacation in Germany. It was all packed up and moved to a room where it could be showcased properly—and out of danger from him.

  "Your clothes." Bradley unclipped the leash and placed it on the table in the foyer. When he turned back to her, she had already removed her blouse and was working on unbuttoning her jeans. With great pleasure, he eyed her pushing the jeans over her rounded hips and down her thighs, letting them pool at her feet before she stepped out of them, using one foot to hold the fabric while pulling the other free. He found the action more adorable than sexy, but sexy all the same. "Fold them and place them next to your leash." She nodded and went about obeying him. The nerves she'd displayed in the car had vanished.

  He could make out several dark, red marks on her breasts from where he’d scratched her earlier, and the flesh above her pussy still held the deep blush of his flogger. He stepped to her, running his finger down one scratch mark and then the next. "Do these still hurt?"

  "No."

  "What?" His eyes snapped to hers. "You are naked, in my home, and at my service." He reminded her. "Do you want to answer again?"

  "Yes, Sir." A blush crept up her neck and covered her face. Had she blushed so beautifully in the dungeon? He would need better lighting in there if that was the case.

  "Do these still hurt?"

  "No, Sir." She shook her head. Her fingers twitched at her sides.

  "Is your pussy sensitive from the beating I gave it? How about your clit, from the two orgasms you had?" Her eyes widened at his questions. Switching gears on her threw her off balance, but also didn't give her time to worry about what was coming.

  "Yes, Sir." She brought her eyes to meet his without being told to do so, and his dick responded accordingly. He'd been hard since leaving the club. Having her close to him made him react.

  "Let's go upstairs to my room. It's late." He didn't attach her leash or give her any further instructions, he simply turned and walked away. After getting to the top of the stairs and turning down the hallway to his room, he noticed her behind him and smiled.

  Erin paused in the doorway of his main bedroom, looking around with awe. He'd taken over the master suite only
a year ago, having felt weird about sleeping in his parents’ room at first. Before he did, he'd stripped them all down and had them redecorated to his liking. The mahogany paneled walls were replaced by deep maroon paint. He changed all the flowery bedding his mother insisted on to black silk, fully aware of the cliché, but he didn't give a damn. His tastes were simple.

  "Come kneel by the bed." He gripped her arm and pulled her forward. She slid down to her knees, looking up at him with a mixture of lust and surprise. "Do you remember how I told you everything I do will benefit us both, even if it doesn't seem like it? Well, this is one of those times. I want you to suck me off. You'll take my cock in your mouth and suck me until I come. I won't touch you, you won't come, especially since you didn't bother asking for the second orgasm at the club."

  "I…" His hand covered her mouth, stopping her from speaking.

  "I don't want your excuses." A little squeeze of his fingers, and she gifted him with a slight wince. He checked her expression for fear. None. At least not enough for him to lessen his grip. "You didn't ask, but that's okay." He released her cheeks and used the tip of his fingers to lightly slap her face. Her pupils dilated, and he grinned. This was going to be more fun than he'd imagined.

  He straightened to his full height and unzipped his pants. As he pushed aside his boxers, his cock sprung free. That alone gave him cause to groan in pleasure. He didn't usually bother with boxers when he played at the club. Easier to get to his dick without them, and he never fully undressed while in the dungeon, but he hadn't planned on pulling his dick out with Erin…not at the dungeon anyway.

  He wanted to show her the pleasure of pain, the enjoyment of giving over to him, and reward her for it. His reward was to use her like this. He may not let her come, but servicing him would fulfill a need inside her she didn't know existed. Yet.

  "Open your mouth, Erin." He stroked his cock in front of her face. If he moved even a breath closer, he'd be touching her. Beautifully, she opened her mouth. "Stick out your tongue," he ordered in a raspy voice. Again, pure obedience. "Good girl." He gripped the hair at the back of her head and brought her forward onto his cock. Slowly, he thrust into her mouth, more and more, until he touched the back of her throat. She sputtered, and he withdrew, letting her gasp a few breaths. "Keep your mouth open." He drove forward again, the heat of her tongue nearly undoing him. She let him lead, so he pulled her head toward him as he crept back into her mouth. He used both hands to grip her hair, moving her along his length, having her take him painfully deep.