“BABY, WAKE UP. Wake up baby.” His calm soothing voice filters into my subconscious moments before I am aware of his strong arms pulling my waist into the curve of his strong body. His lips are close to my ear and his words are barely whispered but they wake me, before I can recall where this particular nightmare was planning to take me. My heart is racing and I can feel the sheen of sweat covering my body chill as I am cradled into Daniel’s arms and lifted from his bed. He kisses the top of my head, walks to the en suite and places me on my feet, leaving me for the briefest moment to turn the shower on. He carefully strips his t-shirt I am wearing, which is now soaked and I notice his gaze darken as he takes in my naked body. Even when we are both nearer to sleep than awake his look sets my pulse on fire. It has been the same for nearly two weeks, since I was discharged from hospital after my sister’s failed attempt to force me to overdose on sleeping pills and three weeks since her driver, Clive, had attacked me. The bruises have gone only to be replaced by this unwelcome nightly routine.
“It feels very much like musical beds.” I tell Daniel with softly sleepy speech as he lays me down in one of his guest rooms, into a freshly made bed after my quick shower and change. He climbs in on my side and folds his large body over mine. I am completely caged by his immense frame and I relax.
“Mmm I’ve not played that one but any game that involves you and a bed sounds good to me.” His hand sweeps up my neck and his fingers spread into my hair while he kisses the nape sending a million shivers across my skin.
“Nancy must hate me for the amount of washing she’s had to deal with?” Daniel’s housekeeper is friendly, so kind and would never say that any of this was any trouble. But that doesn’t stop me from being embarrassed that I am the cause of her work load tripling.
“I’d fire her if she did.” He replied as a matter of fact. I twist in his arms with shock.
“You wouldn’t!”
He laughs. “No, I wouldn’t.” He kisses a line from just below my ear to my collarbone. “Because Nancy could never hate you. She is actually quite fond of you and she’s very fond of me, so how about you stop worrying about the laundry and tell me what you were dreaming?” Nightmares are not new to me. I have suffered with them on and off since John, my best friend, was murdered just after my sixteenth birthday. Typically only talking about them allows me to ever return to sleep and reduce their frequency but since the attack they have returned with a vengeance. Daniel however, has a knack of interrupting just before they manifest into anything I can remember, let alone analyse. I turn fully in his arms and look up into his intense blue eyes.
“You know you woke me before anything happened.” I smile and lean in to kiss him. “You saved me, again.” His lips are warm and soft, and despite his grumble at my comment he returns my kiss. He pulls back cautiously and I know where this conversation is going and I’m just too tired for it. “Don’t please,” I kiss him again. “You couldn’t have known and at the time I sure wasn’t sharing. You did save me.” I place my hands on his face, his stubble scratches the soft surface on my palms. “Daniel, I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you. I’m just sorry these fucking nightmares keep reminding you but they will get better, I promise.” His brow is furrowed and I know he is struggling. He always maintains the utmost control in every aspect of his life and for a short period he didn’t. I nearly died and he won’t accept that there was nothing he could’ve done. But he did, in fact, save my life. It is exhausting. He lets a deep frustrated sigh escape into the darkness and gently kisses my lips. He has been treating me like I’m made of glass since leaving the hospital and for some reason tonight I have had enough.
I pull back, narrow my eyes, and before he can register my mood, I push heavily at his shoulders. He is much, much stronger than me and could easily have resisted but falls back onto the bed. I slip my leg over his hip and sit astride him. My naked heat on fire against him and I can instantly feel his erection pressing against the cheeks of my bottom. I pull his fresh t-shirt from my body and fix my eyes on his. His desire is fiercely reflected in his heavy lidded eyes and his chest rises as he draws in deeper breaths. I can feel his body vibrate with the rumble that escapes his mouth. He stares at my now naked frame; the room is dark and our bodies are all shadow and scent. I take his hands and place them on my breasts; he needs no further encouragement as he firmly squeezes the soft full flesh. He shifts the weight to lightly pinch my nipple but I grab his wrist before he can and I lean forward to put his arms above his head. I am not sure how this is going to work, he is so much bigger than I am and I have to stretch, shuffling my knees along the bed. I can see his grin and I try to manoeuvre him into position. He is being kind and helping, but I am now hovering with my breasts just above his face as I place his hands on the bed frame. I can feel his warm breath and despite the heat, my nipples are hard aching peaks, desperate for his mouth, but I pull just out of reach as he tilts his head and angles his soft wet lips.
Honestly, there is nothing I want more than to feel his lips and mouth suck and tease me but this is about getting him to react, to force him to react. I know I am out of my comfort zone trying to get him into his zone, but I miss him. I love when we make love but I love when he is hard and demanding too, pushing me, driving me insane with need and desire. But lately it has felt much too sedate and more like Driving Miss Daisy. I lean to kiss his jaw and he turns to take my lips, but I move back out of reach. I do this several times, all while gently rocking my hips just nudging the tip of his erection with my soft cheeks. I can see his jaw tick and his grip is all white knuckles, but he hasn’t let go. I lean forward and sweep my tongue along his parted lips, dipping it in and dancing lightly with his tongue. I can’t hold back the moan that escapes my throat and I sink deeper, demanding a similar heated exchange from his tongue. I drag in a deep breath, and sit up and arch my back holding my heavy breasts.
“Fuck!” He growls and his hips jerks tipping me forward slightly.
”What do you want, Daniel?” My voice is breathy.
“I want to make love to you.” His voice is deep and strained. I can feel his tenuous control and I’m counting on its precariousness.
“Wrong answer.” I moan out the soft words as I suck my finger and trace it down my torso. I am so turned on right now, I didn’t realise I would enjoy being out of my comfort zone so much. Daniel’s eyes narrow as they follow the line of my finger, not sure he is enjoying the switch in roles quite so much. My finger reaches the top of my sex and I lift slightly to give myself better access.
“Fuck, Bethany!” With lightning speed he sits and scoops his arms around my back and throws me on to the bed, his thighs have mine pinned wide. I am pure liquid heat and my body starts to tremble in anticipation. “I am responsible for your pleasure.” I can feel the tip of his erection at my entrance, slick and hot. “Me… do you understand? Do I make myself clear?” He growls through gritted teeth. He pushes into me, only the tip and too gently. My core starts to quiver but it’s not what I want.
“Maybe,” I sigh and clench my inner muscles down on him. He grunts and throws his head back.
“Wrong answer!” He launches forward with the deepest down stroke, causing a high pitched scream at the back of my throat, but before he can temper his movement I scream again.
“Don’t stop, please arhhh!” I catch my breath because he hasn’t stopped not for a second. He thrusts and pushes me higher up the bed, grabbing my leg behind my knee he lifts and presses it into the mattress and continues his tortuously deep thrusts. The sudden shift and rotation of his hips sends me spiralling, gasping for breath, my hands gripping his back as his muscles flex and roll. Passionate urgency courses through our bodies, this is going to be quick, deep and dirty. Our slick bodies move together as one and he follows my release with a final push, and I am left trembling with my head buried in his chest. He rolls onto his side and pulls me into his embrace.
“Well, that won’t be happening again.” He firmly kisses my head as mine snaps up to question him.
“What! No! You’ve been treating me like I’m made of glass. Sometimes it’s nice, but not all the time, you can’t---” He laughs as he interrupts.
“Oh, that’s what that was about. Well, Bethany, you have made your point. No more glass, girl. Got it.” He kisses my hair, “But I meant no to you…topping me. That won’t be happening again.”
“Oh, really?” I pout and give him a cheeky grin, “I thought it was quite good, I mean I could probably use a few pointers but-”
“-Ha, you are funny!” He grabs my chin and fixes me with a serious and heated stare. “Not negotiable, Miss Thorne. You are mine. Your pleasure is mine and the next time you top me, if there is a next time, it will be because I have told you to, understand?” His tone is deadly serious.
“Not really.” I snuggle into his unyielding muscular chest and feel him collect me tighter to his side. I sigh, I don’t care, I got what I wanted and he didn’t seem too upset by the whole thing.
“You will.” His voice is seductively soft and I drift off to sleep encased in his warm strong arms. I know I won’t have another nightmare. “Now, go to sleep.” He squeezes me tight into his body. I can feel that his rock hard arousal hasn’t diminished in the slightest and it’s a testament to how these broken nights are affecting him that he is not capitalising on it. I think maybe it’s time to mention my intended move to Marco’s new place. Understandably shaken by recent events, I have quietly let Daniel take charge and I can’t say it’s not completely wonderful to feel so totally taken care of. But I’m fully recovered now and it’s time to get some balance. My life, my decisions, and I have to be sure that they are my choices and I am not being completely overwhelmed and seduced by the completely overwhelming and seductive Daniel Stone.
I can feel his warm breath on my neck and from the sound of his relaxed breathing, I know he has fallen asleep, but now I am wide awake. That briefest thought about moving in with Marco has me thinking about the night I was packing boxes to move out of my apartment, just a few weeks ago. The night Kit tried to kill me. Although, I had kept my call to Daniel live, the phone was in my back pocket and he said he couldn’t hear what she had said. My head was swimming with the drugs, so when I try to remember it is all very fuzzy. I keep trying to think; she hated me, that much she made pretty clear, and she blamed me for Dad leaving. No, that wasn’t right, she blamed me for her Dad leaving. I can feel my head start to ache as I try and recall all the details. What had she said about my Dad? She’d seen him, she knew who he was. Why didn’t I know who he was? Why didn’t he come back? It’s not like we moved around, we lived in that house my whole life. I lift Daniel’s arm, which is a dead weight in his deep sleep state. I slip from the bed and make my way to the kitchen.
The milk is starting to warm in the pan and I smile when I see the fresh nutmeg next to the coffee pods. I had casually mentioned that warm milk and nutmeg helps when I can’t sleep and low, there it is on the side. “So, think Bets, focus on the bits you do know.” I give myself a pep talk. Kit could’ve just been fucking with me. A likely possibility, given her penchant for cruelty, but Mum did say something about my real Dad too. Just one time but-“Ahh!” I grab the handle from the heat just as the white foam reaches the lip of the pan, nice save. Mug filled and nutmeg grated I gently blow on the now too-hot-to-drink milk. What now? Where would I start looking for information? Kit has disappeared, not that she would be forthcoming, and Mum, well, she had been unable to remember much of anything for so long. Her brief lucid memory was just that, brief, and just before she died. I can’t help feel a sudden flood of unbearable sadness wash over me. I have so many questions and no one left to answer them. I have never had a problem with being alone, but just right now I feel terribly lonely.
I walk back toward the living room when I notice the door to one of the other bedrooms open. It’s where Daniel has put all my boxes from my apartment, waiting for me to unpack, probably. I flick the light and place my drink on the side. I know I have nothing that will shed light on the subject, but I do remember the care home giving me a small box with my Mum’s personal belongings. I hadn’t bothered to unpack it, after all it was me who had packed for her when she’d moved there. So it’s unlikely there will be anything that I haven’t seen already. I lift a few lids from the boxes before I see the one I am looking for, it’s grey and light, slightly bigger than a shoe box. I sit crossed legged on the floor with the box in my lap and lift the lid, releasing a thick dusty smell of lavender and damp. Twenty minutes later and I am none the wiser. There are some letters to Kit’s father, mostly begging for forgiveness. There are some photos, one taken on a beach somewhere. We didn’t take holidays, so I’m guessing it was a day trip, I was still a baby and Kit must have been six. The next I do remember, Kit has her arm over my shoulder and we are both smiling proudly. That day had been really hot and we had spent hours clearing the garden shed, and then we had spent hours filling it with grass cuttings. Not just from our garden but also our neighbour’s too. We were convinced that our Mum would get us a pony, now that it had somewhere to sleep. She didn’t and she was furious. The next week Kit refused to help clear the mess we had made. I was so worried that I would get grounded, I spent the whole following weekend cleaning the rotting grass from the shed---God it stank. It was slimy and there were so many bugs. John helped but would tease me, because I hated the bugs.
I sip my milk, there are a few business cards and some trinkets, nothing of value. My great-grandmother’s wedding ring, a gold heart locket, some hospital bracelets and nothing that is screaming, ‘This is your dad!’ with a big old X or an arrow. I feel the prickles on my neck just before I notice the door open. Daniel takes my breath away, stealing my thoughts from the past to the now. His feet are bare and his lounge pants are hung low on his hips, his naked chest is firm, ripped, and with clean cut lines of hard muscle. His hair flops messily over his eyes, which look tired. Now I feel guilty, again. He steps into the room and quickly sits behind me lifting me into his lap. His body is warm and sets mine instantly on fire, sweeping my hair from my neck he kisses and I can’t help but moan.
“If you keep interrupting your sleep like this, Miss Thorne, I will have to chain you to the bed.” His tone is stern and I shift a little at this.
“God Daniel, I’m so sorry I woke you. You do look tired. I just got thinking and couldn’t get back to sleep.”
“Shh, it’s all right baby, it’s a problem with a simple solution.” His grin is wicked against my skin.
“Daniel, you can’t chain me to the bed.” I gasp, but my heart is pumping with the potential.
“Really?” He kisses my neck. “Think that, if it gives you comfort.” His teeth graze my neck and he sucks hard, then bites down causing a red hot searing fire to spread to my core.
“Oh, God!” I cry, but he stops and chuckles when he feels my body deflate.
“Now, what have we here?” He points at the array of material spread before me.
“Mmm…What?” I struggle to come back from my Daniel induced daze, and he inhales as he digs his nose into the hair at my nape, not aiding my focus.
“Playing detective?” He removes his warm breath from my neck, tilts his head, and nods toward the messy pile before us.
“Trying to, but I don’t think Sherlock needs to worry and I won’t be giving up my day job just yet.” I sigh in frustration. “I was trying to remember and I think because Kit and my Mum mentioned my ‘real’ father,” I air quote, “that maybe there was something here that would help, but nada.” I flop back into his chest. He picks up the hospital bracelets, two for me and one for Kit.
“What are these?” I take them from him to check the dates.
“These are mine and my sister’s birth identity bracelets and this one is from when I was fifteen. I was pretty ill for a while and I guess mum kept it.”
“Ill? How Ill?” His tone is firm and his deep frown is all concern.
“I was really anaemic but they thought it might be something else too. I remember there being a bit of a panic about donors but turned out I was just severely anaemic.” I shrug it off because honestly it seems like a lifetime ago and I really haven’t given it a second’s thought, and still wouldn’t if I hadn’t been prompted.
“Mmm…” He looks thoughtful. “Would you like my security team to have a look through this for you? If there is any information here they will find it.” I hesitate, not sure I want that level of scrutiny but then, Daniel knows all my secrets and all my fears. What else is there? He narrows his eyes as I take my time to consider his offer. “Are you hiding something, Miss Thorne?” I shift incredulous that he is serious given my level of disclosure to this man.
“I’m an open book to you, Daniel… you see me…all of me. I hide nothing from you. What about you? Are you hiding anything?” I fire back, and it’s only fleeting but I notice the flinch and twitch in his jaw before his face is again impassive and he coolly interrupts.
“No.”
All right, that wasn’t what I was expecting. I thought this was about finding my Dad but now I feel my previous desire for some perspective has just become an imperative. “Sure, I’m getting nothing from this, other than an unpleasant trip down memory lane. I don’t know whether I actually want to find him but I’d like that to be my choice.”
“I am not sure he deserves to know you, but you’re right that should, at least be your decision.” He holds me tighter.
“What do you mean?” I twist around so I can see his eyes.
“Well, your mother said she wrote to him and he never acted on that. His loss, but still-” His frown is deep but I interrupt.
“He did, he did come but Kit told him I had died!” I blurt as if from nowhere.
“What?” His shock is as evident as my own, as the conversation I had with Kit hits me like a sledgehammer.
“Oh, God! I remember.” I twist fully in his lap to face him. “Kit said she saw him, knew he was my father. We look alike but she sent him away. No… she sent him to John’s funeral, where my mum was attending in my place. So if my real Dad had gone to the church he would’ve seen my Mum mourning.” I shake my head as this all comes flooding back in a jumble of facts and lies mixed with the real sadness and loss.
“Oh, Christ!” He kisses my forehead standing with me as if I weigh nothing. “Look, leave it with me. Okay?” His eyes are intense and the comfort of his words takes a weight I didn’t realise from my shoulders and I exhale a deep calming breath.
“Okay.” I whisper as I gladly relinquish this burden to his charge. His lips cover mine and he sweeps his soft tongue over my lips, trying to gain access. I comply and hear his deep groan of appreciation.
“Now, let’s see where I put those cuffs.” I gasp as he strides from the room.
The blinds are still shut but the room is really bright for a winter morning so I know it must be late. That coupled with the rumbling complaint of emptiness coming from my tummy. I look over to the clock, start a luxurious first stretch of the morning and I feel the unfamiliar restriction instantly. My hands had been curled beneath my pillow and the soft leather is light. It is only when I pull against the material that I can even feel them, but I do now. Wow, he wasn’t joking! I shuffle up the bed and investigate. The cuffs are the same or similar to the ones he used on me at the flat, but the chain that threads through the buckles is long and looped over a hidden bar, which slides the length of the headboard on the bed. There is a small but secure lock joining the ends of the chain and I give a little rattle just to check its integrity. Yep that’s secure. I can’t believe he did this; I can’t believe I didn’t feel him do this but mostly I can’t believe he did this.
“Daniel!” I call out with mock sweetness, but the size of the apartment means with no response, I soon have to resort to shouting which is more reflective of my mood, I hear movement outside.
“Bethany?” A familiar female voice calls back. Crap! It’s Nancy, what is she doing here on a Saturday? She stops just outside the door and I hold my breath. “Can I get you some breakfast, my dear?” My wide eyes are fixed on the handle watching for movement, I quickly reply.
“Oh, no Nancy, that’s fine. You’re not usually here at the weekend, so I’ll sort myself, actually…” I feign a casualness I am not feeling. “I was just after Daniel, you don’t know where he is do you?”
“Yes, dear, he is with his trainer. He said you needed to sleep in, that you needed your rest. Bethany, I hope you don’t mind me saying but it is lovely to see him this way.” Unfortunately, her sweet sentiment is a little lost on me this morning.
“Is it?” I grumble quietly but freeze when I see the handle twist. “Oh, Nancy, he is right. In fact I think I will try and catch a bit more sleep.” The handle stops and slowly returns to its rest position. “Maybe you could get Daniel to wake me just as soon as he returns; you don’t know when that will be by any chance?” The tone in my voice can’t help rise with the uncertainty of my predicament.
“Oh, I don’t think it will be too much longer, he asked me to fix brunch. It is sweet that you miss him, but then you two have been inseparable so it’s not a big surprise. It’s just lovely… anyway, I’ll let him know when I see him.” Her voice disappears. I throw myself heavily into the pillows in exasperation, lifting one of the pillows I squeeze it to my face and scream. I am not going to miss him this morning or whenever he decides to show his face, I am furious. I throw the pillow across the room with more frustration and I look for my bag. I will call him, there is no way I am going to wait here all day like some little slave. My bag is out of reach, so I slide the chain to the very edge of the bar. Slightly excited that I might be able to slip it over the end and free myself, but it just seems to be some continuous bar, damn. I stretch my body full length, pointing my toes frantically trying to grip the folded over handle of my courier satchel with my big toe. Every muscle is protesting at this extreme demand without a warm up, but I manage to curl the leather handle over my big toe and hook it securely onto my foot. I pull the bag to me and climb back on the bed. I give a little air punch at my small achievement but my smile disappears as I dial Daniel.
“Good morning, Bethany.” His voice is smooth and deep, if a little breathless.
“Arsewipe.” I reply sweetly and he laughs loudly but recovers.
“Now, that is not very polite, shall we try again? Good morning, Bethany.” The command in his voice sends instant shivers across my skin and despite being furious, I still feel a deep desire to obey him but I don’t have to be happy about it. I grit my teeth.
“Good morning, Daniel. Would you be so kind as to get your arse back here, now?” I may be trying for polite, but my jaw is clenched and my tone is clipped.
“Oh, Miss Thorne, now you’re not even trying, I might think you actually want to be punished for your manners.” I can feel the smile in his voice and I can’t help the heat flame through me at his words.
“Exactly what am I being punished for at this moment, Daniel?”
“You’re not.” He sounds surprised by my comment.
“So I am shackled to your bed for my own good?” I can’t hide the sarcasm.
“Mmm I do like the visual I now have of you shackled to my bed.” His voice is pure sin, “But essentially yes… it is for your own good. You need to rest.”
“For Fu… “ I cry out but he interrupts.
“You might want to rethink what you are about to say. After all as you say you are shackled to my bed and you have already clocked up one punishment for your impolite greeting… two if I count the sarcastic tone.” His is completely serious and I want that pillow to scream into once more, but I refrain from adding to this situation, which is out of my control. In the first instance I need him to come home and take these cuffs off, and then I’ll be in a better position to highlight the crazy here, maybe. “Good girl, now I will be back when I am back. If you need anything call Nancy, but in the meantime, I would suggest more sleep. You are going to need it.” He ends the call, luckily, because I think calling him a motherfucker, which is on the tip of my tongue, might also be considered impolite.
I hear the handle on the door and wake with a start. I am in a panic that it might be Nancy and irritated that Daniel was right, I did apparently need more sleep. I sit bolt upright. Daniel enters carrying two wonderfully smelling cups of coffee, my tummy makes an embarrassingly loud effort to be recognised and he laughs.
“Someone’s hungry?” He is fresh from a shower, hair still damp, and he smells of citrus and spice, but he looks good enough to eat.
“Someone’s starving,” But in this rare instance I am not thinking of him. I am actually famished.
“Why didn’t you get Nancy to get you some breakfast?” His innocent question has me taken back. Seriously. I slap my forehead, rattling my cuffs at the same time in an obvious display of why I hadn’t done such a thing.
“Why didn’t I think of that?” I reply with wide incredulous eyes.
“More sarcasm, really Bethany, you think that’s a good idea?” He leans forward and pulls the chains so I am forced to slide closer. “I don’t understand why you couldn’t just ask for some breakfast. It is why I asked Nancy to be here this weekend.” He leans down so his lips rest just above mine and I push forward to take a taste, but he grins and moves back out of my reach. I let out a frustrated sigh.
“Daniel, I couldn’t let her see me like this? What would she think?” I exhale slowly.
“Sorry, do you think I would have a problem with anyone knowing that you belong to me?” He laughs and leans back in to nibble at my neck, his breath is warm and minty. “I won’t dignify that with an answer.” He sucks a little harder at a soft spot in the crook of my neck and my breath catches.
“Okay, but what about how I would feel?” My voice gets softer the more distracted I become and I’m trying to keep my focus.
“Same goes baby.” His brows knit together like I am saying something incomprehensible. “You are mine… end of. I don’t care who knows it, in fact the more people the better.” He smoothly climbs above me pinning me to the bed with the covers, his strong thighs gripping me tight. “Don’t you want people to know you belong to me?” His eyes are dark and flash with a slight flicker of sadness.
“Look, Daniel,” I am trying to be calm, but I can feel an inner rage at his stubborn ability not to see that this might be considered a little over the top. “It’s not that I don’t want people to know, but how much they know,”---I rattle my chains for emphasis---“this is different, this is private and I am very new to it.” The unpleasant thought that he is not new to this is an unwelcome distraction and I lose my train of thought.
“Hey.” His warm finger traces smoothly along my jaw. “You are right…this is private.” He leans down and covers my mouth with the hottest kiss that has me moaning into him as I try and arch up to meet him as he retreats. “But you know you could’ve just hidden the cuffs under the covers or pillows and asked Nancy to put your breakfast on the side.” His smile is smug at this obvious notion, obvious now, that is.
“Oh, um yes… I could’ve done that.” I return his smile and wiggle against his capture. “So we’re good?”
“Oh, yes, I’d say we’re good.” His voice is dripping with lust, his eyes darken and my mouth goes dry.
“So, no punishment?” I smile weakly, and his laugh is rich and sinful.
“Now, what would have you draw that conclusion, Miss Thorne?” He pulls the covers down, rolls his t-shirt I am wearing up, and tucks it so that I am naked from my breast to my toes.
“Um that Nancy is here?” I try to argue.
“True, but that just means you’ll have to be quiet because you know that I don’t care.” He pauses, his tongue lightly wetting his full lips. “So, can you be quiet, Miss Thorne, or would you like me to gag you?” His grin is wicked.
“What are you going to do?”
He narrows his eyes and draws his gaze the length of my body, sending a scorching heat across my skin. “Anything I fucking want to.” His lip curls slowly to one side with his erotic declaration.
“Crap, you better gag me.” I think I actually start to pant with eagerness. “I couldn’t face Nancy if she hears me scream.” My face is flushed and my heart is racing when his grin morphs and he flashes me his heart stopping smile.
“Yes, Ma’am.” He tugs his fringe and I scoff at his mock servitude, like he ever does what anyone tells him.