Son of anger, p.18
His Forbidden Kiss: Serpent’s Kiss Series Book 3, page 18
Kim looked down at her hands. “I don’t know if I can do this.”
A different kind of quiet settled over the vehicle. “What makes you say that?”
“Just some of the stuff they said.”
“Like?” He pulled into the parking lot of what looked to be a Mexican restaurant. Once he’d found a parking place, he removed his seat belt and shifted in his seat to face her.
She shook her head. “It wasn’t anything specific. It was more...they act like it was perfectly natural to let their Dominants do whatever to them. Drew talked about Beth using knives on him and Nicole wants to use something called a violet wand on Jeff...”
Justin took hold of her hands and brought them to his lips. He placed a soft kiss on each of her palms, then made her look at him. “What is it about those things that scares you?”
The tone of his voice was soothing and helped to calm her a little. “I just don’t know if I could ever trust someone that much and according to you and Ali, that’s what I have to do.”
“Trust isn’t something that happens overnight. It’s built over time.” He cupped the side of her face and she leaned into his touch. “Step by step.”
Moisture filled her eyes and she willed herself not to cry. “I want this to work so much.”
“We have a month.” His hand caressed the side of her face. “I know this is new to you. If it’s what we both want, we’ll figure it out. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, okay?”
She knew what he said made sense and, true to her character, she was trying to put the cart before the horse. They’d been together three days. They had a long way to go before they made any major decisions. “I’ll try not to stress about it too much.”
A slow smile spread across his lips before he leaned in to kiss her. “No more worrying for tonight.”
Kim nodded and they made their way into the restaurant.
Justin spent the next hour trying to take Kim’s mind off work and contemplating all the reasons she couldn’t be a good sub. In the few times they’d been together, he knew by her body’s responses that she was submissive. It was her head that was getting in the way.
Kim was the type of person who went after what she wanted. Case in point was the day she showed up on his doorstep, offering herself to him on a beautiful submissive platter. It was also what landed her the executive VP marketing position at one of St. Louis’s most prestigious ad agencies. But she was going to have to let go and free herself of that need for control if she wanted to live this lifestyle with him.
Some Doms would tolerate their subs to top from the bottom. Justin did not.
In the past when a sub tried to top from the bottom, he’d put a swift and clear end to any notion they had that they were in control. With Kim, things were more complicated. She wasn’t doing it to try and gain an advantage. He didn’t even think she was doing it intentionally. It was a security thing for her. What he needed to do was to show her that keeping her safe was his responsibility.
“Can I get either of you some dessert? Fried ice cream, perhaps?” Their server had taken their dinner plates and was trying to tempt them with dessert.
Justin glanced at Kim to see if she wanted anything else. She held up her hand in a stop motion. “I’m good. I don’t think I could eat any more if I tried.”
Their server looked at Justin. “Just the check, please.”
Placing the bill on the table, their server nodded. “I’ll take it up when you’re ready.”
“I can’t believe I ate all that food,” Kim said, leaning back in the booth. “I’m going to have to put in some time at the gym this week.”
“I don’t think one meal is going to hurt.” Just reached over and took her hands in his. “Besides, I happen to like all your curves.”
“Is that so?”
Running a finger along the inside of her wrist, he met her gaze across the table. “Gotta have something to hold on to.”
He saw color rise in her cheeks as his meaning registered. She glanced around the restaurant, confirming no one at the surrounding tables had heard him. It was going to be hard to leave her tonight.
After paying the bill, they donned their winter coats again and made their way back to his car. “Home?” she asked.
“Not quite yet.” He put the key in the ignition and listened to the engine purr to life.
“Where else are we going?” she asked.
Justin grinned. She really did have a difficult time not being in control of things. “You’ll see.”
“Not even a hint?” She placed her hand on his thigh, a few inches below his crotch.
He removed her hand from his leg and placed it back in her lap. “Nope. You’ll have to be patient and wait till we get there.”
After his conversation with Daniel Saturday night at the club, he’d been thinking of different ways to build Kim’s trust and get her to let go. Asking her on this date was a step in that direction. He didn’t want a relationship with her that only revolved around sex, so being together and acting like a normal couple was important.
The second part of the evening, however, was about building that foundation of trust. The skating rink was five miles from the restaurant. Since it was a Monday night, it wasn’t very busy. That was perfect for what he had in mind.
“We’re going ice skating?” she asked as he helped her out of the car.
“Yep.” He tucked her into his side as they headed inside. “Have you ever been ice skating before?”
“Not since I was six and I wasn’t very good then.”
Justin grinned and kissed the top of her head. He paid for their time on the ice and rented them both a pair of skates. His dad was a huge hockey fan, so Justin had spent a lot of time on the ice as a kid. He could skate almost as well as he could walk.
When they walked into the ice rink, there was only a handful of other people skating. There was a little girl and a woman he assumed was either her mother or her coach standing nearby, giving her instructions. The other three people were older and didn’t look to be quite as steady on their feet.
He laced up his skates and waited for Kim to finish with hers. Then he reached for her hand and helped her up. Luckily, they only had a few feet to walk in order to reach the ice. Walking on ice skates wasn’t his favorite thing in the world.
Bracing himself on the side edge of the rink, he removed the guard on his skates before stepping onto the ice. He held on to Kim’s arm as she followed his lead.
As soon as she had both feet on the ice, she latched onto him, nearly landing them both on the ground. It was a good thing he was proficient on the ice. “Sorry.”
He helped to steady her. “Better?”
“As long as I don’t have to move.”
Justin chuckled. “I think for it to be considered skating, you have to do more than stand in place.”
“How about I stay right here by the wall, and you can skate to your heart’s content?”
“Not a chance.” He took a step back, putting a little distance between them, but not letting go of her arms.
“Don’t let go!” Her voice was laced with panic. Her eyes pleaded with him, and her nails dug into his arm.
“I’m not going to let go. Relax.” Before she could respond, he stalked backward, pulling her with him.
It was a small move, but like before, she overcompensated. “I’m going to fall.”
“Look at me, not the ice.” He waited for her to lift her gaze to meet his. “If you do what I tell you, you’ll be fine.”
She pressed her lips together but didn’t comment.
Justin took her lack of response as agreement and continued with his lesson. “Tilt your hips forward a little.” He watched as she complied. “Now slide your right foot forward.”
Kim was holding on to him for dear life as he guided her step by step around the outside of the rink. She wasn’t doing too bad. Every now and then, she’d wobble and grasp hold of him, but as they embarked on their second trip around the rink, she got steadier on her feet.
“Ready to move away from the edge?” Even though he asked the question, he changed their trajectory and moved them toward the interior of the ice.
She clung to him again, the fear he’d seen on her face earlier returning. “Maybe we should stick to the edge.”
“Nope. You can handle this. I’m right here if you need me.”
They spent another thirty minutes skating around before he led her over to the edge so they could remove their skates. Toward the end, she was skating with more confidence—he even noticed her smiling a little. She still wasn’t steady enough to do it on her own, but she wasn’t leaving claw marks in his arms either.
“You’re really good,” she said after handing in their skates. “I didn’t know you could skate.”
“My dad taught me. I think he was hoping I’d become a hockey player.”
She slid into the passenger seat of his vehicle and waited until he was behind the wheel. “I think you’re the only guy I know who’s not really into sports.”
He shrugged. “I like sports. I just don’t eat and breathe them.”
“I’m glad.”
Justin glanced over at her before pulling out into traffic. “Why’s that?”
“Because I’m not sure I could spend the next forty years listening to someone yell at the television every weekend.”
Justin tried not to read too much into her statement. She wasn’t saying she wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. But it was hard not to view it that way. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
CHAPTER 21
Kim didn’t know where that came from, but she spent the remainder of the ride back to her apartment with her mouth firmly shut. They hadn’t talked about more than one month, let alone forever. And she wasn’t stupid enough to think they were anywhere near ready to have that type of a discussion either. There were too many obstacles they had to overcome first.
When they arrived at her apartment, Justin walked her to her door and waited as she took her key out and inserted it into the lock. “Did you want to come inside?”
He hesitated for a moment, then followed her in.
“I have some cake in the fridge and I can put some coffee on,” she said, not sure what to do. Her day had ended much better than it had started, and she wasn’t ready for it to be over yet, even though it was after ten.
“I’m good.”
She stood on the threshold between her living room and kitchen, unsure what to do with herself. The urge to jump him was there, but she wasn’t sure if that was appropriate in their agreement.
“Tell me,” he said.
She lifted her gaze to meet his. “What?”
“You’re thinking very hard about something. What is it?”
“Oh.” She bit the inside of her cheek. “I was trying to decide whether jumping you was allowed.”
He raised one eyebrow. “You think I’d be upset if you threw yourself at me?”
A smile spread across her face as the tension that had been building in her body eased. “Well, when you put it that way...no.” She shook her head. “I feel constantly off balance and unsure of myself. Is that normal?”
“For someone who’s used to being in control of things?” He left her hanging for a few moments before providing his answer. “Yes.”
Her brow furrowed. “I’m not sure I like it.”
Justin closed the distance between them, pulling her into his arms. The instant relief she felt from his touch was almost frightening. “I will never object to you trying to seduce me, baby.”
“I’m allowed to initiate sex, even though I’m the submissive in the relationship?” Kim asked. She’d never seen that happen at the club, but she also knew things were different there.
“Of course.” He ran his hands down her back to cup her ass and gave it a squeeze. “This lifestyle isn’t meant to suppress your sexuality.”
She was still confused about where the line was, but Ali had told her not to get too impatient. It was one of her faults, she knew. Kim wanted to know everything, and she wanted to know it now. Another reason why letting go was so difficult.
“You’re thinking really hard again.” He lifted her off her feet, startling her.
Kim grabbed hold of his shoulders as he carried her over to the couch. She’d been expecting him to sit down, but instead, he dumped her onto the couch and knelt in front of her. “Tonight, when you were gripping my arms to keep yourself steady, did you ever think I’d let you go and allow you to fall on your ass?”
“No.” She’d never thought that. Not once. She knew he’d catch her if she started to fall.
“Why?” He settled between her legs, his hands resting on her thighs.
From the look on his face, she knew he was trying to make a point and it wasn’t hard to figure out what it was. “I trusted you.”
He nodded.
“But on the ice it’s different,” she insisted.
“No. It isn’t.” He sat back on his heels and looked her in the eyes. “You were completely focused on me. If I told you to move your right leg forward, you did. If I instructed you to bend your knees, you complied...because you trusted I would take care of you.”
As much as she hated to admit it, she could see his point.
Justin stood and extended his hand, helping her up. “We both have to be up early tomorrow for work. Do you want me to leave?”
A zing that started somewhere in her chest went directly to her clit. It had only been two days since they’d had sex, but already she missed having him inside her. Plus, her bed had felt very empty the night before. She’d like to wake up beside him Sunday morning. Was it possible to get used to something after only experiencing it once?
Given their previous conversation, Kim decided not to hold back. “She wrapped her arms around his neck and brought her lips close to his. “I want you to stay.”
He cupped the back of her head and kissed her hard. “You have five minutes to get yourself ready for bed and be waiting for me.” Justin released her and headed toward the door.
“Where are you going?” she asked, still a little unsteady on her feet after the kiss.
“I need to grab my bag.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “And you’re down to four minutes and twenty seconds.”
Without another word, Justin disappeared out the door.
Kim glanced up at the clock. She figured she had four minutes left and she knew he wasn’t kidding about the time limit. She turned off all the lights except for the one in the living room, checked the back door to make sure it was locked, then raced into her bathroom to take care of business and brush her teeth. She was glad she’d had the forethought earlier to shave because there was no way she could accomplish that in the short time she had left.
She had just finished kicking off her jeans when she heard him come back through the front door. As swiftly as she could, she finished removing her clothing and stood, naked, at the foot of her bed, waiting for him.
The house was quiet except for his footfalls, making them sound much louder than they actually were. Her heart pounded in anticipation. He hadn’t said to get into bed or kneel or give her any instructions other than to be ready for him.
His frame filled the doorway to her bedroom, his shoulders nearly spanning the frame. He paused, taking in the view. His gaze started at her face and worked its way down, lingering on her breasts and hips.
He entered the room, but he walked over to the dresser instead of to her. Kim followed him with her gaze as he placed his bag on the chair and a mug of something on the dresser. Then he began unbuttoning his shirt.
It was a slow process. He took his time, not seeming to be in any rush to undress.
Kim wasn’t sure what to do. She thought about helping him—see if she could speed things up—but decided against it. Even though her fingers were itching to touch him, she’d be patient. She could do that.
Justin peeled his shirt down his arms and tossed it onto the chair beside her dresser. His gaze met hers as he popped the button on his slack and lowered the zipper. His erection bulged from behind his underwear as he pushed the jeans down his legs and kicked them to the side.
Quirking a finger at her, he beckoned her to him. She couldn’t get her feet to move fast enough. Memories of what he felt like...tasted like...had her wet and aching.
The urge to remove the last barrier of clothing separating them and giving in to her urges was tempting. She’d never denied herself with anyone but Justin. Then again, she’d never had more powerful orgasms than she’d had with Justin either. The irony wasn’t lost on her.
As patiently as she could, she waited for him to tell her what he wanted.
Lifting a single finger to her breast, he traced around the outside, then around the nipple itself before taking the tiny bud between his thumb and forefinger. She closed her eyes as he rolled and pulled...pinched and twisted...her already sensitive nipple.
A low moan escaped her throat and the heat between her legs grew. She loved when he played with her breasts. Almost as much as when he played with her neck. For some reason, those two areas of her body seemed to have a direct line to her clit.
“Open your eyes.” His voice was soft, yet firm. There was no doubt by his tone that it was a command, however.
Kim met his gaze and was struck by the depth of color in his green eyes. She loved it when he looked at her as if she were the only woman in the world he desired.
“Tonight, we’re going to do a little breast play.” He gave her nipple a hard pinch before releasing it and turning to reach into his bag. A second later, he held a pair of nipple clamps. He’d used them on her that first night and while they’d hurt, the pain had dissipated quickly. “Do you remember these?”
“Yes. Sir.” She’d almost forgotten. Even though they weren’t in the club or his playroom, they were still playing.
He grinned, letting her know she’d pleased him. For some reason, that made her happy. She wanted to please him.
Cupping her breast in one hand, he ran his thumbnail over the tip of her nipple, flicking it several times. It didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t a soft caress either.
