Charlotte
Did I want to spend my future with the man who’d just declared he loved me? With this hard, masculine man, this deadly man who loved me?
Loved me.
How many times had Mom told me life could be full of dreams unrealized or joy you make happen?
It was time for me to claim my joy.
I looked into the face of the man who’d swept me up and never allowed me a moment to doubt myself.
“Yes,” I breathed. “I want that.” Raising my hands to his neck, I pulled his head close. “I want that so much.” Tears filled my eyes. I blinked them away, ignoring them as they ran down my cheeks. “As crazy and fast as all this is happening, yes, I want to be with you, Jake.” I smiled, letting all my fears melt away under his steady gaze. “I love you.”
I had a chance to see his gaze heat before his mouth claimed mine. Sinking into his kiss, I clung to his wide shoulders, feeling the muscled strength under my fingers as he moved his arms to wrap me tight in his embrace.
All that power, all that passion belonged to the man who wanted me, loved me.
Fresh tears pricked at my closed eyes as that promised joy filled me like an overflowing stream, bringing with it life and goodness and new beginnings.
Jake lifted his head, his hands framing my face. “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.” His voice thick with emotion, Jake gaze fixed on mine. “There’s so much I want to share with you, Charlotte, about what’s happening, about who I am, but I can’t. Not yet. Too many people’s lives depend on my silence.”
I wrapped one of my hands around his wrist, needing to hold on to him as much as to show support. “I’m not stupid. I know there’s way more to you than a guy who’s good at poker.”
He closed his eyes briefly before straightening up. “A few more days and I can share.”
But what was going to happen in that time? My belly twisted at the thought. Whatever it was, Jake was in danger. “I want to ask questions, I can’t deny that. I’m more worried that you’re in danger.”
I would have said more, but Jake’s phone beeped. Pulling the device out of his back pocket, he scanned the screen before gazing back at me.
“I’m not if I keep you here and do what I’m trained to do.” Dropping a kiss on my forehead, he stepped back. “I want to strip you and toss you onto that bed, but that message was from Deke, letting me know he’s a minute out. Get dressed and come to the kitchen. I’ll make you some breakfast.”
“You buddy is coming here?” I wasn’t sure I was up to hanging in a room with one of the men who’d been a party to me being dragged out of Wyatt’s home. Silly as this sounded, I was embarrassed to know he likely knew what had happened here.
Jake studied me, his features relaxing a fraction as he took in the way I fidgeted. “Sweetness, I’m going to share one thing with you, only so it will help you settle. Deke and the guys were on the SEAL team with me. They know me like I was their brother. You don’t need to feel uncomfortable around them. Trust me when I say they’ll protect you with their lives if needed.”
“Why?”
“Because you matter to me.”
His answer was a statement. A promise. These were men who lived by a code.
One I’d yet to fathom.
“Okay.” What else could I say? The fact three strangers would do that for me was daunting, but stood as a testament of the bond they shared with Jake. For that fact alone, I needed to get over my embarrassment. “I’ll get dressed and meet you guys out there.”
After another quick kiss, Jake walked out of the room.
I walked to the bed on shaky legs and sat on the edge. “Holy heck, Charlie, you’re in for the ride of your life,” I muttered to myself. At the sound of a truck engine nearing the house, I jumped up and dressed without worrying too much about what I chose to put on. Speeding to the bathroom, I checked that the denim shorts and pink t-shirt looked okay. Thankfully, I’d managed to grab a couple of bras last night when shoving all the clothes in the duffel. Running my brush through my hair, I tided myself up, adding a swipe of lip gloss and a quick spray of perfume. I needed all of my feminine armor when facing these men.
After slipping on my white sneakers, I headed to the kitchen, finding Jake at the stove and Deke sitting at the kitchen table sipping from a mug of coffee. With what looked like three days’ worth of whiskers on his face, the guy was dressed in the same clothes as yesterday, his short brown hair standing up in places in lines, like he’d dragged a hand through the strands more than once. This man was deadly, despite whatever tiredness he might have been feeling; I’d already seen him in action with Wyatt.
“Hi,” I stated somewhat lamely, stopping myself at the last minute from giving an even more dorky wave hello. God, what was it about alpha males that made me so uncoordinated and embarrassed?
“Charlotte.” Deke nodded, the ghost of a smile playing on his lips. “You’ve got Jake pulling out all the culinary stops this morning.”
I glanced over to Jake who was flipping an omelet onto a dinner plate. “He’s just jealous I didn’t make one for him.”
“Would you like half?” I made the offer without thinking. But my mom had raised me with manners, and well, that’s just what a person should do.
Deke’s gaze warmed, and this time his smile was undeniable. “That’s generous of you, but no, I’m on my way out.” He rose from the table and walked to the sink with his mug. He turned, giving Jake a level look. “Ryder’ll call when we’re ready.”
Ready for what? I kept that question to myself as Deke gave me a casual wave goodbye before walking out of the house.
“Bacon and mushroom omelet. I wasn’t sure you liked green peppers.” Jake set a plate with a fork and the fluffiest looking omelet I’d ever seen in front of me, along with a mug of coffee.
“I like peppers. And thanks, this looks lovely.” Trying a bite of the food, I made a satisfied sound deep in my throat. “This is delicious.” Smiling, I glanced at Jake as he sat at the head of the table. “When did you learn how to cook like this?”
He shrugged and sipped his coffee. “Don’t like starving, so I learned how to feed myself. Might as well enjoy what I’m eating.”
I chuckled. His answer made perfect sense and was a statement on Jake’s practical outlook on life.
For the next half hour, we talked about everything and nothing, learning little facts about each other. Some as mundane as my favorite color being pink and his blue, that he was a fan of the Steelers and I didn’t give two hoots about sports, and that we both loved Italian food. None of these facts were earth shattering, but they were a part of two people getting to know each other and forming a deeper understanding.
After I’d rinsed my plate and mug in the sink, I turned, only now seeing the white box that rested beside the seat Deke had occupied.
Jake followed my gaze and his slow, lazy smile sent a tickle of wariness up my spine. Picking up the box, he nodded to the doorway. “Bedroom, sweetness.”
“Um, maybe I could do laundry?” Yeah, that sounded good. “Or dust? Everyone should have a tidy house.”
Jake’s answer was to grip my wrist and lead me down the hallway.
Once in the bedroom, he dropped the box on the foot of bed and guided me so I was standing in front of him. “Your first lesson about me taking absolute control starts now.” He lifted a hand and stroked a knuckle over my check. “Don’t be nervous, I’m not going to hurt you. I’m not into pain.”
Pain? God, I hadn’t thought that much about pain. Thank freaking hell he wasn’t a fan.
“What if I don’t want to learn anything?”
“You’d be lying to yourself as well as me.” His hand moved to my nape, holding me firmly in that way that made my knees weak. “And we both know you’re curious.”
I was. “That’s true, but I’m still nervous.”
“Understandable. This is a test of your trust in me as much as your resolve to push yourself and your limits.”
Oh, boy. I sucked in a breath and nodded. “Okay, I’m ready.”
The flash of heat in Jake’s gaze was all the warning I had. “Strip.”
His order, given in that low, commanding tone sent a shiver over my body. I moved without question, my clothes soon on the chair next to the dresser.
Jake walked to the bed and reached into the box, removing two black leather cuffs with metal buckles. “Give me your wrists.”
I obeyed, holding them out in front of me.
Jake encircled my wrists with the cuffs, buckling them to a snug, but not tight, fit. He clipped the cuffs together in front of me, restraining me. My pulse kicked up at the weight of the leather on my wrists. Such a foreign, but heady, feeling.
It was like Jake had flipped a switch inside of me. I wanted to touch myself, ease my building need. Only I was cuffed; being restrained added extra flame to my arousal.
Next, he drew out what looked like a leather harness and started to wrap one of its straps around my waist. “Spread your legs.”
Again, I obeyed. The leather belts weren’t a harness, but more like a chastity belt with a strap that had three holes riveted in it dangling down between my legs. Jake secured a small vibrator into the middle hole and a small silver disc shaped device into the top one. After covering the middle vibe with lube, he lifted he gaze to mine.
The smoldering fire in his gaze curled my toes. I couldn’t speak even if I wanted to.
“This harness is designed to bring you nothing but pleasure.” He pulled the strap up between my legs, gently easing the well lubed middle vibe inside of me. “But like everything, it will be at my discretion.”
I held my breath as he pressed the tiny silver disc vibe against my clit, then tightened and locked the strap so each vibe was either pressing tight against me or fully inside of me.
He stepped back a few paces and held a remote in his hand. “Brace, sweetness.”
I jolted as the vibes kicked on. Whatever tenderness that remained from Jake’s lovemaking last night was negated by the slow steady pulse of the vibes.
“Come to the bed.”
“O-o-k-k…ahhh.” I gasped as, with each step, the vibe bumped the walls of my vagina, sending a flurry of sparks along my core.
Jake’s chuckle didn’t help to alleviate my frustration.
I managed to sit on the edge of the bed, the pressure of sitting pushing the vibes deeper inside me and harder against my clit. “Y-you don’t have t-to enjoy this so”—I sucked in another breath—“much.”
“Oh, but I do.” Jake’s dark chuckle resonated over me as I quivered from the riot of sensations deep in my pussy. My struggle for composure served as a stark reminder I was subject to his will. “Every moment of your submission is a gift to me. Each crack in your defense is a win.”
“But this isn’t fair.” I twisted against the cuffs, but they held fast. The clink of the steel links locking the buckles was my only reward.
Caught. Totally at his mercy.
“Who said I’d play fair?”
I wanted to fight him, to curse and tell him to let me go, but the more I struggled, the more I wanted his domination over me. Like a drug, this man, this Dom controlled me as I freely gave over my trust.
He moved in front of me and grasped by chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Now I want you to submit to me another way.” Bending down, he kissed me, a long lingering kiss that had me leaning into him. Only when he broke the kiss did I open my eyes. “I want my cock in that pretty mouth of yours, sweetness. Can you do that for me?”
Maybe it was because he asked; maybe it was the measured and sure tone of his voice, but right at that moment I wanted to pleasure him more than anything. “Yes, please.”
Jake’s intense stare held mine as he unzipped his jeans and pulled out his fully erect cock. I hadn’t a chance to really see it in detail last night, but now I took my time. Wide and long, the hard shaft had a drop of pre-cum on the head.
Lifting my cuffed hands, I looked up at Jake, silently asking if I could touch him.
He nodded, and I grasped him as best I could. Leaning in, I kissed the tip of the head, then licked at the pre-cum, thrilled at the sound of his answering hiss from my touch.
“Good girl,” he coached as I ran my tongue down the length of his hardness. “That’s it, yeah,” he added as I took him into my mouth and sucked hard. “Careful of the teeth, sweetness,” he warned as I drew back on his cock, then took more of him again, sucking harder, careful to use my lips and not my teeth on his cock. “Christ, for a beginner you’re learning quick.”
I continued to suck and lick, taking more of him in my mouth each time until I felt my throat muscles tighten. Panicking, I tried to lean back, but Jake gently stroked my cheek, his tone encouraging. “Relax, Charlotte. You won’t choke. Take what you can. Here.” He took hold of his cock at the base and, with his other hand, guided mine to his balls. “Hold these and massage gently.” Wanting to please him, I did as instructed, fondling them with my fingers and continued to suck.
“A good Dom always sees to his sub’s pleasure as well,” Jake shared a second before the power on the vibes increased.
“Mmmmpph” I moaned deep around Jake’s cock.
“Fuck,” Jake cursed, gritting his teeth as he tilted his chin to the ceiling.
My attention was now split between sucking and massaging him and coping with the ever increasing volley of sensations from the vibes on and inside me, I didn’t have time to panic, but relaxed into the rhythm of taking him in my mouth.
Jake’s breathing got louder as he thrust his hips in time with my sucking. I rocked with him, each movement nudging the vibes, firing my arousal to fever pitch.
“Charlotte. I’m close.” Jake warned. “Either let go or be prepared to swallow.”
I heard him. Of course I did, but I wanted to take him, to taste all that was him and finish what I started. In answer, I sucked harder, smiling to myself at his gruff curse. His balls tightened in my hand. He went still before the first shudder shook his huge frame. A warm steam of liquid hit the back of my throat as his cum filled my mouth. I swallowed fast, my hands moving from his balls to his cock, gripping him firmly, wanting to share this intimate moment with him.
Jake ran his hands through my hair, twisting and tugging on the strands, the sharp burn as he pulled like adding fuel onto the already smoldering fire of my arousal. “Your turn,” he said in a rough voice.
The vibes buzzed harder. I gasped as the muscles in my core clenched, detonating sparks of desire and firing off my climax in hot, brutal waves of pleasure that seemed never-ending.
“Please, Jake. Please, it’s too much,” I pleaded as I gripped his jeans, hanging on for dear life as shudders raked through my body.
“It’s not fucking nearly enough,” Jake growled before lifting me up and throwing me on the bed. My head landed on the pillows, and I dimly felt the vibes stop as he undid the harness and pulled the strap from my pussy.
Tremors raced through my core as the vibes were so roughly pulled away. My greedy, hungry pussy wanted more. I opened my mouth to say as much, only to have Jake kiss me deliberately hard, cutting off my demand. Then he was standing above me, his gaze roving over my body, thoroughly inspecting me.
Like he owned me. Like I was his to do with whatever he wanted.
My clit pulsed at the idea.
“Hands above your head.”
I raised my cuffed wrists, bending my arms at the elbows, and rested them against the bed.
“Seeing you tied like that, helpless and open for me is one fucking gorgeous sight, Charlotte.”
He lowered himself to lie between my legs and spread my pussy lips wide with his hands. “Gonna take my time with you.” He traced his tongue around one side of my clit, just barely enough for me to feel the pressure. “Make you beg.” Then he licked the other side before flicking the tip of his tongue whisper soft right over the top of my clit, sending a cascade of tiny shivers radiating outward from the sensitive bundle of nerves.
I bit down on my lip, holding back my pleas for him to go faster. I could hold on for longer if he gave me a second to take a breath, to try to gather my thoughts.
But Jake didn’t stop. He kept licking, sucking—and grazing me with his teeth. My brain fogged as sensation took over thought. Then Jake used his fingers, sliding them into my pussy, twisting and turning, grazing over my g-spot, then thrusting again as his tongue circled my clit.
I rocked my hips, riding his fingers as he skillfully pushed me to the very edge.
I was so close. Just a few more seconds and I’d be there. Just a little harder, right there, and I could—
Then, shockingly, there was nothing.
Jake pulled his fingers out, and I no longer felt his tongue on me.
What. The. Fuck?
I raised my head as best I could with my arms still above me. “What happened?”
Jake met my frantic cry with an even stare. “Who do you belong to, Charlotte?”
“You,” I panted out my answer. “I belong to you.”
“And what do I control?”
“Wh—” I started to ask, my mind searching for whatever answer he wanted and then I remembered his words earlier. ‘But like everything, it will be at my discretion.’ “My pleasure.” I licked my dry lips. “You control my pleasure.”
This was the lesson. Reminding me who was in charge. Everything I desired, including my pleasure, came at his will.
“That’s right.” He plunged two fingers inside me and gently—so fucking gently I wanted to scream—stroked my g-spot.
My lover and Dom was also my tormentor.
I felt the tears come, hot and plentiful as they ran down my cheeks. “Please, Jake. Please let me come.”
“How do you want to come, sweetness? By my fingers?” He stroked just a thread harder, only enough to stir a tremor along my core. “Or by my cock?”
“Your cock,” I didn’t hesitate to say.
“Right answer. You were so sure you wanted my fingers. But when you listen to me, you find another alternative.” Jake pulled out his fingers, and this time, I didn’t complain. He knifed up from the bed, grabbed his wallet and pulled out a condom. Once sheathed, he put a knee onto the bed and pulled my legs wide. “Now we both get to come. I swear, I’ve never been hard again so fast before in my life. That’s all down to you, sweetness.”
In one swift thrust, he entered me. I cried out as his thick hardness filled me so, so much more than the vibe. He stroked his cock over tender nerve endings, shooting wicked licks of heat that built and grew to an inferno of raw lust. I shook my head from side to side as Jake thrust harder, faster, grinding himself into me. I wrapped my legs around him, giving him greater penetration as each thrust was a lesson in agonized pleasure.
Nothing mattered but sating the wild need overwhelming me as Jake brought me to my peak of pleasure. I hung there, suspended by an invisible thread, not daring to breathe until, with one hard, pounding thrust, Jake pushed me over into the abyss of my climax. I cried out as a whirlwind of white-hot pleasure consumed me. The muscles in my pussy squeezed Jake’s cock, sending another volley of shuddering bliss rolling through me. Lifting my cuffed wrists, I looped my arms around Jake’s neck, needing that contact with him.
“Jesus, woman, you”—he sucked in a breath—“do me in,” Jake ground out as his body began to shudder.
Curling my fingers into fists, I watched in fascination as Jake threw back his head, revealing the corded muscles of his throat as he gave an uninhibited cry of satisfaction. The thick muscles of his tattooed arms bunched as they held most of his weight. I wanted my hands free so I could stroke over every line and swirl of his tats, every muscle. This powerful man inside of me had claimed me, loved me.
“Charlotte,” Jake cut in on my thoughts. “I’ll always see that you get what you need.” He dropped a kiss on my forehead, another on the tip of my nose, and finally on my mouth. “It may not be what you think you want, but you need to trust me to know what’s best.”
“I do, but…” I bit my lip, fighting the urge to keep quiet, but knowing I couldn’t respect myself if I didn’t speak up. “I’m not a kid. Women aren’t toys without a mind of their own.”
He huffed a laugh. “I don’t want a fucking mindless toy. I want you, asking questions, giving me your opinion. But sometimes a person’s fears or their inexperience with something colors their choices.” Leaning on one elbow, he used his other hand to brush back the hair that had fallen into my eyes. “That’s where I come in and take control. But that can only happen if you give me your complete trust.”
His explanation went a long way to soothe my worries. Not so much high-handed and controlling as protective and troubleshooting. I could live with that.
“That sounds like a good compro— Aaahhhh” I took in a shuddering breath as Jake pulled himself out of me, making sure to graze his cock over my now extra tender g-spot.
“I thought I’d save you from using a word that would gain you a spanking. The correct phrasing would be ‘That sounds like a good idea’.”
A spanking? I should have been furious or about to backtalk, but instead I was imagining everything involved with that spanking, including wrestling with Jake, which would lead to my inevitable position of having my ass up in the air and his hand spanking said ass. Oh, how I’d enjoy the journey, at least to that point.
And, even though I was only twenty-two, I was a smart girl for my age. Some thoughts were best kept to myself.