The sudden patter of raindrops against the glass woke me from a dreamless sleep. I was exhausted but sated. Sore but grateful for the pain. Although Jonathan was too gentle for my taste, there was no mistaking that he was a Dominant. It was in his eyes and it was roaring to get out. His ex-wife definitely did a number on him though I wasn’t about to say anything, ever. It wasn’t my business.

As I rolled to my side away from the window, I realized I was alone on the bed. Jonathan was seated at the desk, staring at the laptop screen. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table and saw it flashing 04:30 A.M.

“Jonathan, it’s early. Is everything okay?” I sat up, tucking the sheet under my arms even though I didn’t need to. He’d bared me already.

He blinked, as if just hearing me. He looked gorgeous sitting naked on the leatherback chair with his tousled copper hair and green eyes illuminated by the desk lamp that he’d set on its dimmest setting, just enough so he could see the laptop keys.

“I just had to catch up on some emails. Asia is awake right now,” he said, powering down his laptop and slipping back under the covers next to me. “How about you? How are you feeling?”

“I’m fine.”

Although I hadn’t been with many men before Jonathan, I knew pain when I saw it. I recognized the ghosts they left behind. But I also knew the importance of secrets remaining secrets, and Jonathan Drazen III had them in spades.

“Just fine?” he asked, his tone teasing as he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. He traced the slope of my neck with his finger, stopping just above the spot he’d bitten hours earlier. It was sore, but I didn’t mind it. I liked the pain he gave me. I liked the marks he left behind.

“If you really want to know, I’m happy,” I said, bringing my hand to his chest and running my fingers through his chest hair. “You made me very happy. Sated is more like it.”

Jonathan didn’t say anything. He traced his fingers up my neck and then back down again, down my shoulder and my arm. I didn’t expect any return on my answer. I was just being honest. I loved it when he fucked me, loved it more when he held me down and told me when to come. I loved it when he told me to call him Jonathan. One day, he’d order me to call him Sir. If he’d become my Dominant, I wanted only to serve him and make him happy. In return, I wanted to feel protected and safe. I liked the feeling of belonging to someone. But didn’t we all? We just had different ideas on how to go about it.

“I don’t like Sebastian,” Jonathan said, his brow furrowing. “I don’t ever want you to speak to him again.”

“I have no plans on seeing him. I promise.”

I watched as he opened his mouth about to say something but stopped himself. Then he shook his head, as if telling himself to let it go.

“Come here.” Jonathan opened his arms and I slid my body toward him. He studied my face for a few moments before kissing me on the lips tenderly. “Turn around,” he said and I did as he told me. He pulled me close and I could feel his breath on my neck. “I want to see you again, Sharon. I want you to show me how the others before me did things with you, but I don’t want to know who they were. No names, just…just show me what to do and you and I will take it from there.”

“What about clubs? Like, BDSM clubs? Do you want me to take you to those places?”

“No clubs. They’re not my thing,” he said. “One of my sisters was into that scene a long time ago, and it just wasn’t for me then or now. I also can’t be seen in those places, not with who I am and what I do.”

“I understand.” I more than understood. I felt his need to be private. He’d been through the wringer already, and none of it had been private. Debbie had told me he’d broken down during a shareholder meeting after Jessica left him. A shareholder meeting, of all places. As much as I hated his ex-wife, I was in awe of her. I wished I had a man who’d feel that devastated over losing me.

“Is that what you like?” Jonathan asked. “Going to clubs and being shown off in public?”

“No, they just took me to those places but they’re not my thing either. The only showing off I want to do is for my Sir.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“The ‘Sir’ part?”

“Yes. It sounds good coming from you,” he said and I felt his mouth against my skin, his stubble creating goosebumps in its wake. “But only when we’re in a scene. Only when we’re in private. Don’t forget that.”

“I won’t,” I said, turning to look at him, the faint scent of sage and fog mingling with that of sweat and sex. “Jonathan, I don’t have much to offer you but–”

“Shhh,” he said as he ran his tongue over my skin. “You have much to offer me, Sharon. More than you ever know. Just…just no names. That’s all I ask when you’re with me. And be honest. Always be honest with me and we’ll get along just fine.” He cupped my breast, his finger drawing lazy circles on my nipple.

“You can tell me anything you want,” I whispered, pausing when he took my nipple between his thumb and index finger and twisted it. His erection pressed against my back, hot and hard. I forgot what I was about to say, the pain taking over and I’d become the nipple between his thumb and index finger.

“You were saying?” he asked as he let go.

“Whatever you want to talk about or do to me, don’t feel like you need to hold anything back. I am here for you.”

His hand slid down my belly and settled between my thighs where he found me already wet. He slid his finger between my pussy lips and I sighed. “In that case, I’m going to fuck you right now,” he said, his hand leaving me as he reached for something behind him on the bedside table. I heard a wrapper tearing. I turned my head to see him rolling a condom over his glorious cock before he turned back to face me, his dick slipping between my legs, coating himself with my juices.

“May I call you Sir?” I asked as Jonathan wrapped his arm around my waist and shifted back, lifting me with him and depositing me on all fours.

“Yes, you may.” He knelt behind me and pushed my torso down on the bed, leaving me with my ass up in the air. “Hands behind your back, please.”

“Sir…” I turned to look at him, my hands positioned behind me. “Wait.”

“What is it?” He ran his hands across my back, splaying my hair over my shoulders before sliding lower to my buttocks. His fingers slid between my cunt lips, teasing me.

“Vanilla,” I whispered. “It’s my safe word.”

He nodded. “I should have asked you earlier.”

“It’s okay–OH!”

The first time his palm struck my skin, it stung and I drew an intake of breath. He did it again, and then again. Four strokes and I was whimpering, not because of the pain but because I wanted more. I wanted his cock inside me, needing him to take me as roughly as he could. I wanted him to punish me and pretend I was the woman who’d hurt him, who’d shamed him for his needs. I wanted to be her and give him what he’d always wanted.

“Beg for it,” Jonathan said, his voice rough, demanding. “It’s the only way you’re going to get it.”

So, I begged. I pleaded. I implored him to hurt me, to leave his mark on me, to fuck me hard. Four more stinging slaps on my ass and he was inside me, filling me in one smooth stroke. I was so wet, so ready. He gripped my hips and held me in place as my pussy pulsed around him. I was a mess, a quivering mess in his hands as his hips slammed against my sore ass but it was exactly what I wanted. I wanted him in control. I wanted him to become what he was. Jonathan grabbed hold of my wrists for leverage as he began to fuck me roughly, leaving me out of breath with each thrust. It left me reeling, floating, drifting yet knowing that I was completely safe.

Please, Sir. May I come?

Not yet.

May I come, Sir? Please, I can’t take it. Fuckfuckfuck…

No.

Please, Sir…

Sharon…

Please, Sir…

Come.