SWEET SILENCE

Melinda Barron

®

www.loose-id.com

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This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

Sweet Silence

Melinda Barron

This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Published by

Loose Id LLC

1802 N Carson Street, Suite 212-2924

Carson City NV 89701-1215

www.loose-id.com

Copyright © December 2007 by Melinda Barron

All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced or shared in any form, including, but not limited to printing, photocopying, faxing, or emailing without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC.

ISBN 978-1-59632-581-4

Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader Printed in the United States of America

Editor: Maryam Salim

Cover Artist: April Martinez

Acknowledgements and Notes

Bondage is not something to go into head first. It can be fun, yes, but there are also risks involved. If you are interested, you should do a great deal of research first. There are many sites I went to and books I read while researching Sweet Silence. They all say the same thing: As in all BDSM play, keep it safe, sane, and consensual. Diego gives Sorcha warnings, ones which MUST be followed by EVERYONE wanting to play with ropes. Do your research, follow the warnings, and learn to do things right. Do not take any risks that might injure you or your partner. Rope play should be taken very, very seriously. For more information, look up the Two Knotty Boys (www.knottyboys.com), or www.twistedmonk.com. Information on these sites, and in these publications, is very interesting and well done. Diego enjoyed reading their advice and surfing their sites. I’m sure you will, too.

Thanks to Maura for talking through ideas, and as alwa s y for reading the rough drafts.

Gracias to Sabe l

l a for her help i

w th my Spa i

n s .

h Any mistakes are mine, not hers. And t

o

Maryam, wh

r

o remains an editor extraordinai e. Thanks for keeping me in line, and pumped with ideas. This one is for Shan. She knows why.

-- MB

Chapter One

Diego watched her from the top of the stairs, a small smile lighting his face. She was very sure of herself; that much was clear. Of course, she always had been.

She hadn’t changed much in the two years since he’d seen her. He sized her up with his cop eyes. Around five feet five, one hundred and ninety pounds, curvy, with large breasts and full hips. Her black hair was cut short and her dark eyes flashed angrily.

From his vantage point, Diego could see why she was angry. No matter how many times Sorcha Morales tried to press money into the desk clerk’s hand, the clerk refused to take it, shaking her head and keeping her hands placed firmly over the ledger that showed which Dom was in which room at Tygers.

When her bribery didn’t work, Sorcha tried to sweet talk her way into the information she wanted. When that failed, she swung back to angry. He had to admire her tactics. She wasn’t giving up; of course, most reporters didn’t. He remembered the woman was there to try and cause trouble for Eric and Angel, to try and get them to ignore a judge’s gag order and talk to her about their knowledge of Dustin Jaymes.

She could get them, and inadvertently him, into a great deal of trouble. That meant she had to be stopped. He knew exactly how to distract her.

2 Melinda Barron

Making a mental note to tell Ty the clerk needed a raise, Diego leisurely walked down the stairs, focusing on Sorcha, hoping she would feel his gaze and look up. When he was almost to the bottom, it worked. She glanced his way, looked back at the clerk, then jerked her head back to Diego as understanding dawned.

He’d topped her before. He could tell from the look in her eyes she remembered every moment of it. But she still wasn’t going to be distracted. She licked her lips as he walked closer and he could tell it was determination, and not lust, that caused the action.

She was here to get a story, and if she couldn’t find the source she wanted, Diego would do. He’d been at Jaymes’s arrest, too. He was on the witness list.

“I understand you’re down here causing trouble.”

“Trouble? I’m not causing any trouble, Master Diego. I’m simply…”

“Trying to bribe a clerk into telling you where to find a certain Dom and his sub. Sorry to disappoint you, but they’re a bit tied up at the moment.”

I know that because I’m the one who tied her up, giving her Dom a lesson.

“I’m not trying to bribe anyone, Sir.”

“So I suppose that money is for your dues? You are a member, right?”

“You know I am. Sir.” The last word was added in haste. “How else would I have made it this far?”

He looked at the money and raised his eyebrows.

“Are you now a member of the Tygers’ police force?” Heavy sarcasm fueled her voice.

Diego shook his head.

“Did you come down here to give me an interview? The people have a right to know what’s going on.”

“And I have the right to follow a judge’s order to keep my mouth shut, as do Eric and Angel. You’ll just have to live with it.”

Sweet Silence

3

He swallowed a smile as he watched her work things out in her mind, trying to figure out a way to get him to talk.

“Why don’t we go find someplace quiet? There are some private booths in the bar. I could ask questions, but you don’t have to answer. A nod or a shake of your head could tell me what I want to know. You could be an unnamed source. The judge would never know.”

Diego shook his head. “Why don’t we just go upstairs, little subbie?”

She pulled back from him as if he’d slapped her. “Because I don’t trade sex for stories.”

He took a step closer. “Now, how am I supposed to think you could interpret nods and shakes when you get something so simple so very wrong? I never said anything about sex. I just said let’s go upstairs. The last time I topped you, we didn’t have sex, did we?”

She had the good sense to look abashed. She smiled and moved toward him until they were millimeters apart.

“Did they send you down here? Are you going to take me to Eric and Angel? Will the three of you talk to me? No one has to know. I can protect all of you as a source. I’d rather go to jail than reveal a source.”

Diego stared at her, waiting for her to say something else. But she didn’t. She just looked at him with wide brown eyes and twirled her pen between her fingers.

“How do I know we could trust you? You used to be a reporter for the Tribune. Now, you’re not. Where do you work?”

Indecision crossed her face and he knew she was trying to decide whether or not to tell him the truth. Finally, she sighed.

“I’m freelancing. This is a huge story, and I’ll be fair to you, I promise.”

“Yes, it is huge.”

He stared at her, waiting for her to make the next move. The fact that she didn’t jump at his invitation reminded Diego she was smart and didn’t go head first into things. He knew she’d been burned before, both personally and professionally, and that’s what caused her 4 Melinda Barron

reticence, despite the fact she wanted this story so bad she would bribe people to get information.

After a few minutes of silence, she nodded.

“You will take me upstairs to see them?”

Diego calculated how long they’d been talking. He was sure Eric and Angel had already slipped out Ty’s private entrance, so he could probably let her go upstairs and find nothing but an empty room. Still, Sorcha had always intrigued him. A trip upstairs could prove fun, and very interesting.

“Sure, I’ll take you upstairs.”

“To talk with you, Eric, and Angel, right?”

“I can’t promise you that. But I do know where they’re at.” They either moved to a new room to continue playing, or they’re out the back door, probably roaring down the road on Eric’s Harley.

“Take me upstairs.”

Diego nodded and turned to the desk clerk.

“Subbie Sorcha and I will take room seven, if it’s available.”

“It is, Master Diego.” She blinked her eyes twice and nodded when he mouthed the words, “They gone?” at her.

He turned to Sorcha and held out his hands toward the stairs.

“After you.”

Indecision crossed her face, and then she nodded.

Yes, Diego thought, this could prove to be very interesting.

* * * * *

At the door to room seven, Sorcha paused. This could turn out to be one of the smartest things she’d ever done, or the dumbest. She knew Diego Fuentes’s reputation. Her former Sweet Silence

5

Master had given her to him one night for a bondage session. A short one, true, but still a bondage session. He’d been gentle and kind, and very, very dominant. He was a no-nonsense Dom who never let a situation spiral out of control. He was always on top of things. Always.

He reached around her and pushed open the door. She walked inside, keeping her purse close to her instead of placing it on the table in the antechamber. She walked through the curtain, hoping to find Eric and Angel.

The room was empty, which disappointed but didn’t surprise her.

“They’re not here, are they?”

“They were. They might still be. But they’re not going to talk to you.”

“You lured me up here under false pretenses. I should tell Ty. That’s against club rules.”

“Go right ahead. Trying to bribe someone is against the rules too, and I never mentioned anything about a scene. I just asked if you wanted to come upstairs, and you said yes.”

“With the condition I talk with the three of you.”

“There were no conditions.”

She reached into her purse and took out a tape recorder. She hit the record button and held it toward Diego.

“Tell me about the day Eric arrested Dustin Jaymes.”

“No comment.”

“Did he really threaten to kill you?”

“No comment.”

“Is your hair green?”

“No comment.”

She flipped the recorder off in anger.

“I can protect you as a source.”

6 Melinda Barron

His smile made her knees go weak. He wasn’t handsome in the classical sense. She guessed him to be around five feet ten, maybe two hundred pounds, with broad shoulders and a massive chest. His dark hair was cut short and there were little flecks of green in his deep brown eyes.

She swallowed hard. “You don’t believe me?”

“What I believe is a judge told me to keep my mouth shut. He can put me in jail. You can’t.”

He walked toward the wall of bondage equipment, trailing his fingers over ropes and handcuffs.

“Since we’re here, why don’t we play? Just a little bit.”

She shook her head violently. “I told you, I don’t trade sex for a story.”

“I don’t plan on giving you a story, and I wasn’t proposing sex, so there shouldn’t be a problem. However, I could give you a great orgasm. Would you like that, subbie Sorcha? As I recall, you liked the one I gave you the last time I topped you.”

Her breasts rose and fell rapidly as he selected two pairs of handcuffs from the wall. He moved to another wall and attached them to rings. Sorcha imagined herself stretched between the rings as Diego wrapped rope around her breasts, around her waist, and threaded it down through her pussy.

Memories of her experience with Diego flooded through her mind. She hated to think that two years later she could still remember the smell of his aftershave as he’d leaned over her and bound her hands, wrapped the ropes around her breasts, and tugged on her nipples.

It had been the only real sexual contact they’d had that night, but it had fueled her fantasies for some time after that. Thomas had known, and it had made him angry. He’d told her that, although he’d wanted to see her bound, he hadn’t wanted her to lust after the Dom who was doing it. She had lusted after Diego, and truthfully, still did. But she had been Thomas’s sub, and it had been good. For a while. She forced the memory of Thomas out of her mind. He’d Sweet Silence

7

been from Pittsburgh, and his job had taken him back. They’d both agreed that it would be best if she stayed in Albuquerque. He’d been her last Dom, and that had been two years ago, right before her fall from grace.

She’d been excited at her first meeting with the famous Diego, and she could admit now that she’d wanted to have sex with him, but Thomas had refused. Lisa, another subbie, had told her about sex with Diego, how explosive and intense it was, how his pierced cock felt sliding in and out of her body.

She looked down, and he cocked his head at her.

“What?”

“Is it really pierced?”

His eyebrows arched with mischief. “Is what pierced?”

“Your cock.”

“Would you like to see it?”

Focus, Sorcha, focus! You’re not here for this. Maybe, just maybe she could sneak out, lock him in the room, and knock on doors until she found Eric and Angel. She’d been nice and tried calling, but they wouldn’t return calls or take hers, so she’d resorted to coming here, where she knew they played, hoping they would be relaxed and more in the mood to talk. Instead, she’d found Diego.

“Well?”

“What?”

“You didn’t answer my question. Would you like to see my cock?”

Oh, fuck yes. I’d like to see it sliding into my mouth, and other places.

“Yes, but, that’s not why --”

“Come over here. No pain. Just pleasure. Submit to me tonight.”

8 Melinda Barron

Sorcha was tempted, oh so tempted. She wanted to build on their first experience together, and she could use the release, that was for sure. But, that wasn’t why she’d come here, and if she submitted to him tonight it would feel too much like compromising her journalistic morals, like she was trying to trade sex for his cooperation. She might have fallen in her career, but she hadn’t fallen that far.

She knew that if she just left, he would let her. No Dom in Tygers was into forcing a sub into submitting. But, she wouldn’t have time to search for Eric and Angel.

He turned his back to her, his hand still wrapped around the ring from which the handcuff hung. She had to get away from him, give herself time to search for her sources.

She bit her lip as an idea formed. She knew it would end up badly for her, but she really had no choice. And he was going to be so pissed at her.

I’m sorry. Please forgive me.

She walked toward him and caressed his hand.

“Good girl. I think you and I might --”

She clicked the manacle over his wrist and locked it into place. The sound echoed in the quiet room.

He pulled against the chain, and laughed deeply. He turned toward her. He was smiling, but he wasn’t happy.

“You shouldn’t have done that. You’ve gone from being a good girl to a bad girl. I’m going to have to punish you.”

She backed away from him. “This story is too important to me, and you’re not going to talk. Tell me where I can find the other two.”

“Unlock me.” His voice was steely. “The key’s over on the wall.”

She shook her head and moved to the door. “I just need the time to search for them.

I’m sorry.”

Sweet Silence

9

“Sorcha.” The anger in his voice was clear. “Don’t leave me here like this. I will find you, and you’ll pay, I promise.”

She hurried through the curtain as he yelled her name again. His deep, “fuck!” and the rattle of the handcuffs sounded ominous as she stood in the antechamber and tried to catch her breath.

Oh, my God…I just chained Diego Fuentes to a wall.

She would have little time, she knew. She was sure he had a cell phone in his pocket and was probably dialing it right now. The idea that had seemed so smart seconds ago now seemed so stupid. Why hadn’t she thought of a cell phone, or of what would happen when he was loose? Oh lord, what had she done?

Sorcha hurried into the hall, wondering which door to try. Would she be banned for this? She hadn’t played in a while, true, but she always loved it when she did. But she was pretty sure that handcuffing a Dom to the wall was breaking the rules, unless he’d given her his permission. She heard Diego yell again and turned toward the inner part of the club.

Master Ty was coming toward her, a frown on his face.

“Sorcha?”

“Crap.” She clutched her purse and took off for the stairs at a dead run. So much for her brilliant plan. Ty called out her name again, with more force, but she kept running. Not only wasn’t she getting an interview, but now Diego Fuentes was going to hunt her down, and probably spank her until she couldn’t sit for a week.

10 Melinda Barron

Chapter Two

“Could you be any slower?” Diego leaned his head against the wall. Part of him wanted to scream, the other part wanted to laugh. Outwitted by a subbie.

“I don’t know. I’m considering calling my sweet little Chess up here with a camera.

That’s the only way anyone’s going to believe this.”

Diego rattled the cuffs and turned toward Ty. He bared his teeth in a growl. “The key.

Now.”

“Fine. Ruin my fun, see if I care.” He walked to the wall and picked up the key, holding it out and dangling it. “This what you want, subbie?”

Ty’s voice was deep and his shoulders shook with laughter.

“Fuck you. Just unlock me.”

After Ty released the lock, Diego rubbed his wrist. “Where does she live?”

“I’ll get it for you, but I think you should make her stew overnight. Go to her tomorrow, lull her suspicions; let her think you won’t show up.”

“Not a bad idea.” Diego nodded, then lowered his head to his hands, his shoulders shaking with laughter. “La pequeña tramposa.”

“What?” Ty shook his head.

Sweet Silence

11

“She’s a little cheat. She got me talking about my cock and turned the tables on me, cheated me out of my fun tonight.”

“Well, she gave me a good laugh. And I could sure use it.”

Diego looked at his friend. “Yeah, I heard. I’m sorry. I didn’t even know you and Alexis were having troubles.”

“We tried to keep it quiet, until she decided to leave town. The partners had to know she was selling me her share. Nothing’s going to change, though. They’re sending out letters to everyone so they know that.”

“Are you drowning your sorrows in subbies, or just in Chess?”

Ty snorted. “Chess keeps me happy, and I would never use a sub as a filler. But I’ll need a woman before long, one that can switch, because I love to watch my female subbie top Chess. He loves it, too.”

Ty nodded and clapped Diego on the shoulder. “You don’t want to hear my woes, though. I’ll get you that address. You going to bring her back here tomorrow? Do I need to set up something special?”

“No, unless you want to punish her.”

“I’ll leave it to you. Tell her, though, that she has a black mark on her record here, and the other partners will be informed.”

“Will do, but somehow, I don’t think it’s going to scare her.”

* * * * *

Sorcha approached her apartment door cautiously. It had been a long day and the last thing she needed was to find Diego Fuentes sitting on her doorstep, with handcuffs, or worse yet, a belt in hand.

She’d been very surprised when he hadn’t shown up last night. He was either letting her tension build, which it had, or he was just going to forget the incident, which was 12 Melinda Barron

doubtful. With any luck, he’d wait until he saw her at Tygers again, which wouldn’t happen for a long while.

She stuffed her mail into the bag of groceries she carried and inserted her key into the lock. She’d thought she’d had a job today. A respectable job at a small magazine. It wasn’t reporting, but checking facts was just fine with her, for now.

The morning interview had gone well. But when she’d come back for the follow up after lunch, she knew the news editor had put her name together with the scandal of two years ago. He’d told her thanks, but no thanks, before she’d even put her butt back in the chair that had felt so comfortable that morning.

Once inside, she turned immediately to the right and the small kitchen. She deposited her bag, kicked off her shoes, and fished the mail out of the bag. Bills and more bills. She threw them on the counter and put up the food. Maybe a hot bath would feel better. If they hadn’t shut off the gas. If so, it would be a cold shower.

She exited the kitchen and crossed the entryway into the living room and let out a surprised scream, her hands flying to her chest as she came to a dead stop. Diego Fuentes sat on the couch, thumbing through a magazine. When she’d recovered enough she took a few steps closer to him.

“Get out!” She pointed toward the front door. “Out, or I’ll call the cops!”

“Go ahead.” He looked up at her and grinned. “Wanna use my cell phone? I got the number programmed in already.”

“What good would that do? They protect their own. Even when he breaks into a woman’s apartment.”

“I didn’t break in. I had a key.” He dangled the silver instrument from his fingers. “You should find a better hiding place for your spare. Under a rock in an apartment complex? First place a burglar would look.”

“And it was the first place you looked, huh?”

Sweet Silence

13

“Yup.”

The doorbell rang and she shook her head. “What now?”

“Pizza.” Diego stood and moved toward the door.

“You ordered pizza?” Sorcha stared after him as he walked toward the door. From where she stood, it seemed the man wasn’t made of flesh and blood, but of pure audacity.

“I’ve been waiting a while, and I’m starved. There’s nothing in the fridge.”

She listened as he opened the door and greeted the deliveryman, their voices carrying into the living room of the small apartment.

“That’ll be thirty-two bucks.”

“There you go, my good man. Keep the change.”

“Thanks, man. Have a good one.”

“Same to you.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her anger rising.

Diego came in and lifted the lid on the box. The heavenly aroma filled the room and Sorcha stared straight ahead. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d had enough extra cash to treat herself to a pizza delivery.

“I got supreme, ’cause I didn’t know what you liked. And I ordered two, ’cause, like I said, I’m starved. Me, I go for everything, but you can pick off what you don’t want. And I got some wings, too. The hot ones. You do like hot stuff, right?”

He’d moved to stand beside her and she lifted her gaze to his. Her stomach rumbled, but she shook her head.

“Take it and leave.” There was no conviction in her words.

“Now, don’t be like that. Be happy I didn’t tackle you and chain you to the table or something. I think I’m being more than generous.”

“I was bad; you can spank me and leave. How’s that?”

14 Melinda Barron

He closed the lid on the top box.

“You have any paper plates? I hate doing dishes.” He crossed into the kitchen and she heard the pizza boxes hit the counter with a soft thump.

“Well, since I’m sure you went through everything before I got here, you’d know that I don’t. Plates are to the right of the sink.”

He came back into the living room, the plates piled on top of one of the boxes. He set them on the coffee table, whistling as he opened the wings package and took out the small jars of dipping sauce. He opened the pizza box.

“Come and eat. And you can tell me all about yourself and your fall from grace.”

“Why? You obviously know the story.”

“Not your side. Isn’t that what reporters say, there’s two sides to every story? Tell me yours, and I’ll listen. After that, we’ll talk about your punishment for last night.”

“Listen, I know…”

She closed her mouth when he held up his hand. “This may be your house, but I’m the Master of it, and you, right now. I want the story in order. Whatever happened to you in the past led to last night. I want you to eat, and tell me the tale from the beginning.”

He loaded pizza onto his own plate, surrounded it with wings, and took one of the containers of dressing. He sat down on the couch and looked at her pointedly.

“I’m waiting. I’m patient, but you don’t want to rile me up too much.”

Sorcha shook her head. She wouldn’t call him patient. Stubborn and full of himself, maybe. In another man his attitude might seem arrogant. With Diego, it just seemed natural, as if he expected to be in charge. Of everything.

She watched him eat, and it was the smell of the pizza that brought about her downfall.

She couldn’t stand it anymore. She took a plate and put a few slices of her own on it, lifting one up to take a bite. She groaned.

“Delicious.”

Sweet Silence

15

They ate for a few minutes in silence, her standing and him sitting. Finally, she sat down across from him and set her plate down, rubbing her hands together to dislodge crumbs.

“You read the story about my firing?”

“Eric told me.”

“Great. He won’t talk to me, but he’ll talk about me. Just great.”

“In your defense, he did say he thought you got a rotten deal.”

“That’s nice to know. Do you think he could get me a job at the PD, maybe filing or something, ’cause I can’t find a decent one anywhere else, it seems.”

She watched him finish a third slice and reach for another. “I’m waiting,” he said around a bite of food.

“Two years ago a friend of mine came to me with a big story. She said her son told her his teacher was molesting him. I ran with it. I contacted the teacher and the school. It was the first the school had heard about it. Everyone denied it, although the school put him on suspension, as was their policy, until an investigation could be done.”

“And?”

“And, it seemed that everyone but me was willing to wait for the investigation. The paper agreed to do the story, but wanted to withhold the guy’s name until he was arrested.

When the news editor had left for the night, I convinced the copy editor to let me see the story. I wanted a biggie on my hands, so I put the guy’s name in, and it ran that way.”

Diego whistled low. “And you’re surprised you got fired?”

“I was sure she was telling me the truth. We’d been friends for a long time, or so I thought. Turns out she and the teacher had been having an affair and he’d dumped her. This was her way to get back at him.

“Of course the next morning, the shit hit the fan. I thought for sure the man would be arrested, and we would be the first news organization to name him. We would have a big 16 Melinda Barron

scoop and I would get promoted. Instead, the school announced that the whole thing was bogus. They fired him for having an affair, true, but he’d never touched the kid.”

“So you ran with the story before checking all the facts.” Diego got up and went to the kitchen. She heard him open the fridge, which she knew was almost bare. She heard it close again.

He came back and handed her a bottle of soda. When he was seated again, he opened his own and took a deep drink.

“She used you.”

“Yes. And I was naïve enough to believe her. I had my eye on the prize, and not on the ball.”

He picked up a chicken wing. “You still have your eye on the prize; only this one’s much bigger.”

He popped the wing into his mouth, pulled the bone out while pulling off the meat, and began to chew. She watched his lips, trying to focus on anything but his words.

“Yes, but this time I’ll be certain of my facts. And getting my information right from the source. You, Eric, and Angel.”

“This time the stakes are higher. Last time you lost your job. This time you could lose your life. Stay away from the story until the trial starts. Cover it, and write it up. Prove you can do things right.”

“No! Everyone will be doing it at that time. I want to be the first.”

“We’re not going to talk to you about it. Sorry.” Diego placed his empty plate on the couch next to him and stretched his feet out under the coffee table.

She set her plate inside the now empty box and stood, her hands on her hips, shaking her head at him.

“He threatened to kill you. Didn’t that piss you off?”

Sweet Silence

17

“How do you know it was me? It could have been Angel, or Eric. Or even Ward McGovern. He was there, too.”

“Fine. I’ll keep digging without you. Thanks for the pizza. Please leave.”

The room grew silent and her palms began to sweat.

“You think it’s going to be that easy? You left me chained to a wall last night. You can’t do that and not be punished for it.”

His voice was soft, and it sent chills up her spine.

“Are you going to spank me?”

“Not tonight.”

“Then what? Are you going to kidnap me and take me to Tygers, chain me to the wall for everyone to see?”

He lifted his brows at her in consideration. He laughed.

“Tempting, but no.” He stared at her, his eyes assessing, yet full of mirth. She returned his gaze, waiting for him to speak. She’d heard that about him, that he’d get into staring matches with subs, his silence keeping them on edge, increasing the intensity of the scene they were in.

Finally, she couldn’t stand it anymore. “What, then?”

“Three nights. You and me, at my cabin in Chama. I have a very nice dungeon there.”

Her mouth dropped open and she shook her head. “No. No way.”

“There won’t be any pain. Well, except for the initial whipping I give you for chaining me up. But other than that it will just be Master and sub, and a lot of bondage. You’ll even get to feel my pierced dick in your sweet little cunt.”

Sorcha felt her pussy contract. Her clit twitched in anticipation, but she shook her head. To put herself in his hands for three days? That idea was just too frightening.

“Is there an alternative?”

18 Melinda Barron

“A public spanking at Tygers, from Ty and me at the same time, kinda alternating swats. I like a belt, but Ty likes his cane.” He hissed at the idea. “He’s not very happy with you, by the way.”

She nodded and sat back down, her heart beating rapidly and her nipples pressing against her bra. They tingled with anticipation.

“You know you’re tempted. Last night, I know you wanted to see my pierced dick. Did one of your subbie friends tell you how it felt sliding in and out of her?”

“Yes.” She whispered the word and looked across the room, anywhere but at him.

“If you’re worried about me hurting you, don’t be. We can sign a contract and leave it with Ty. We can leave it with anyone you like.”

“I’m not worried about that.” She turned toward him and smiled, her gaze drifting to his crotch. “I’m just a little out of practice.”

“I give good instructions. And I have a four-day weekend, starting Friday.”

“This weekend?” She stared at him, her stomach dropping to the floor. “I don’t think…”

“We can leave Santa Fe around six. You can park your car at my house. It’ll be fine there. The minute you get to my house, though, the contract starts. You’re mine for that weekend. Agreed?”

She swallowed hard. “I can’t believe you’re giving me a say in this.”

“I’m a Dom, not a kidnapper and rapist.” The disgust in his voice made her regret her words.

“Of course you are. It’s just…”

“Be at my house at five. I’ll give you the address. Do we have a deal, or do you need to meet me at Tygers Friday night?”

“I’ll go for the weekend.” She said the words quickly, before she changed her mind.

Sweet Silence

19

“Excellent.” He stood and moved in front of her. Her face was now level with his cock.

She could see he was hard, pressing against his jeans. He stroked her hair, and she wanted to reach out and stroke his dick. He stayed there for a few minutes, his hand gentle on her head, his cock inches away from her face.

He reached for his wallet. After extracting a card, he took a pen from his front pocket, wrote down his address, and handed it to her.

“Don’t be late.”

“I won’t be.” She stared at the card, flinching when he gently pulled her to her feet. He put his finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his, raising his brows as if to ask a question.

“I won’t be. Master.”

“Much better.” He nodded and left, and she sank back into the chair. The pizza and wing boxes were empty, but she knew he’d left another full pizza box in the kitchen.

“He broke into my house.” She shook her head and fought back a laugh. She examined the card. It was printed with his name, badge number, and work and cell number. He’d printed his home address and number, and written the time for Friday, underlining it.

She winced when she remembered he’d used the word whipping. It wouldn’t be the first time for her, but Thomas had only done it a few times. The whipping didn’t scare her as much as the bondage, though. The one time Diego had tied her had been exhilarating, fascinating, and incredibly arousing. Would it feel the same way when he was punishing her for chaining him to a wall?

20 Melinda Barron

Chapter Three

“I always loved the zoo.”

Sorcha focused on the tigers and shook her head. “Why all the cloak and dagger stuff, Ruben? I just wanted to hire you for a small job.”

“Right. I don’t talk about illegal jobs over the phone, Sorcha. Too many chances of being bugged and recorded.”

She turned to her high school friend. “What makes you think I’m not wearing a recording device right now?”

“I’m an electronics expert, remember? I have a nice little device in my pocket that will wipe out recordings within range. Now, what do you want, and do you have my money for it?”

“You’re nothing if not to the point.”

“Time is money. Well?”

Sorcha glanced around and furrowed her brow. “I want you to break into the state police computers and find an address for me.”

“Have a nice day, Sorcha.” Ruben walked away from her and she called his name.

“Don’t leave.” She ran up to him. “I have money for you. In my purse.”

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21

“How much?” He turned to her.

“Five hundred?” She chewed on the inside of her lip and grimaced when he laughed.

“Are you kidding me? I wouldn’t hack into the grocery store computer for that, much less the state police. Five hundred won’t cover my bond when they arrest my ass.”

“I thought you were good. The best? If you do your work right, you won’t get caught.

Or are you afraid of tackling the really big jobs?”

“I am the best. And I’m not afraid of anything.”

“Obviously, you are.”

He snorted and Sorcha gave herself a mental pat on the back.

“I want more money.”

“I can get you five hundred more.” She stared at him as he shook his head.

“I’m outta here.”

“Please, Ruben. This is important to me. You have no idea how important.”

He stood with his back to her for what seemed like forever. Finally, he turned back to her. “I’m only going to do this for so little money because we were friends in high school. I want that other five hundred. When can you get it to me?”

“Early next week, after I get the information.”

“Fine. What is it you want?”

“The address of someone the state is hiding until the trial. His name is Joseph Black Hawk.”

* * * * *

“What size shoe do you wear?”

Diego’s voice came through loud and clear over the phone line, and yet Sorcha still said, “What?” She was breathing heavily, having run from the front door to catch the phone 22 Melinda Barron

before the caller hung up, hoping it was one of the sources she’d called that afternoon. When did I give him my telephone number?

He repeated his request and she cleared her throat.

“Nine.”

“Width?”

“Medium.” She cleared her throat again. “Um, Diego, I --”

“Shirt size? I’m thinking a one-X. Would I be right?”

“It depends. Usually, yes. Why are you --”

“Bra? Forty D?”

“Double D,” Sorcha said softly. “I have --”

“Lower body a size sixteen?”

“Sometimes eighteen, depending on the pants, but --”

“It’s not going to be pants, sweets. Don’t be late tomorrow.”

He hung up and Sorcha stared at the phone.

“Good-bye to you, too,” she said with a sigh. She plopped down on the couch, wondering what this weekend would bring. She wanted to be bound, yes, and she wanted it to be with Diego. But why was he asking about clothing?

On “play days,” Thomas had made her stay naked. Surely, Diego would be the same way. But his questions made her wonder. She sat up and picked up the package she’d bought that afternoon. A prepaid cell phone. She couldn’t afford a regular one, but she wanted the people she’d contacted that afternoon to have a way to reach her this weekend, in case they decided to talk.

She would set up the phone tonight and call tomorrow morning to give out the number. It would take her just about an hour to get to Diego’s house in Santa Fe, depending Sweet Silence

23

on the traffic. Best if she left around three-thirty, just to make sure she was on time. She didn’t want to add being late to her list of sins.

For the thousandth time since Monday, she wondered what had possessed her to fasten a handcuff around Diego’s wrist. Had she really thought that she’d find Eric and Angel, and that they’d talk to her? She was trying to get her information the wrong way. These were law-abiding citizens who wouldn’t risk going to jail.

Once she’d come to that realization, Sorcha had decided on Plan B. Going to Ruben was risky, but hopefully it would work. Her friend had a respectable job at a computer firm and did his hacking on the side. She just hoped he was as good as she’d heard.

Sorcha had gone to the bank that morning and taken five hundred dollars from her savings account, leaving her only five hundred. She would have to take that out to give to Ruben when the job was over.

Tracking down Joseph Black Hawk was dangerous, but since no one would talk to her, she had no choice. She knew that Joseph and his family were in hiding because Jaymes had threatened their lives. She was sure they would talk to her, and she would keep their location a secret. Like any good reporter, she was willing to go to jail before revealing a source, and that would include keeping Joseph’s location secret. Maybe, just maybe, she could get him to tell her what he knew, and that would lead to nailing Jaymes to the wall. If not, she had one other option that was more chancy, but would still get her desired results.

She hated giving out the last of her money, and it was a long shot, really, that Ruben would be able to hack into a police computer. But if it worked, it might put her back on the path to a good story, and that would lead her back to the land of the living journalists.

* * * * *

Diego’s house wasn’t what she expected. It was a small adobe structure, with lots of trees and a flowerbed that in warmer months would have lots of blooms. Sorcha pulled into the driveway next to his truck and put her car into park.

24 Melinda Barron

She was more than a little nervous about this weekend, but she had to face the consequences of her actions. She smiled to herself as she remembered the scene of Diego chained to the wall.

Bet that was a first. And though she might chuckle about it, she knew that he wouldn’t.

If word got around Tygers that it had happened, he’d be doubly mad, so she didn’t plan on mentioning it to anyone. She was sure that Master Ty wouldn’t, either.

Once outside the car, she opened the back door and picked up the bag she’d packed.

She wasn’t sure what she would need, but she’d brought a few changes of clothing, in case he decided to spend time in town, which was doubtful.

She knocked on the screen door, peering inside the open door at the living room and waited.

“Ven adentro, mi pequeña juguete.” His voice rang out and she shook her head. She stepped inside and found him sitting on the couch, clad in jeans and boots and dark T-shirt.

He looked dark and dangerously sexy.

“Your toy?”

“That’s right; you’re my little toy for the weekend. And I’m your Lord and Master. You will refer to me as my liege. Say it.”

“Yes, my liege.” Her stomach turned over. It had been a long time since she’d submitted, and, despite her apprehension, she was very, very excited about the idea.

“Very good. Now, I want you naked.”

After setting down her case and purse, her fingers went to the buttons of her blouse.

She’d worn a skirt, thinking he would like her in feminine clothing, since he’d made the comment last night about her not wearing pants. Obviously, he didn’t want to see her in anything. Unless he had clothing for her to wear, an idea that made her stomach churn more.

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“Slowly. I’m very visual. I like to watch. After you drop each piece of clothing, stop until I tell you to start again.”

She shrugged out of the blouse and threw it toward a chair, her nerves jumping up one more notch. When he nodded his approval, she smiled.

“Skirt next.”

Her fingers went under the elastic waistband of the calf-length skirt, pushing it down so she could step out. She kicked off her flats and looked at him when he sighed.

“Did I say you could take your shoes off?”

“No, my liege.”

“Put them back on.”

“Yes, my liege.” She stuffed her feet back into the shoes and looked at him. He again gave her a look of approval.

“Very nice. Now, your bra. Slowly.”

She put her hands behind her back to grasp the clasp, pushing her breasts out further.

A look of hunger appeared in his eyes, making her pussy clench and her nipples tighten further. She undid the hooks and let the garment fall. She’d never been ashamed of her body.

Thomas had taught her not to be, and from the look on Diego’s face right now, she didn’t need to be. She wanted to look down, toward his crotch to see if other parts of his body were reacting the same way, but she didn’t. She kept her gaze focused on his face.

His gaze roamed over her breasts, as if taking in every inch of them. She stood still, enjoying his perusal. When he finally spoke again, his voice was husky with desire.

“Now your panties.”

She pushed them down gently, stepping out and spreading her legs slightly to give him a better view.

“Very nice. You’re a good girl, knowing that you needed to shave last night. Or do you keep your pussy nice and bald?”

26 Melinda Barron

“I keep it that way, my liege.”

“Good.”

He continued her perusal, his gaze roaming over her body until Sorcha began to fidget.

“Stand still.”

“It’s just been so long.”

“Yes, but your time to submit is here now, so behave. Let me go over my rules with you. You belong to me this weekend and will obey me in all things. If something bothers you, you use your safe word. We’ll choose one when we get to the cabin.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“As I said, I’m visual, and I like to take things slowly. I expect you to stand still during that time. Plus, I like silence. It heightens the scene, arouses the senses. You will speak when you are spoken to. If you wish to ask a question, or make a comment, you will raise your hand. And you will wait to speak until I give you permission. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Good. It’s a form of bondage, really. And I love bondage.”

She smiled as he stood and walked into the other room. He was back seconds later, a collar stretched between his hands.

“Kiss it.”

She lowered her head to it and did as he told her. When she lifted her head he placed the collar around her neck and fastened it, a large D-ring in the front. He pulled a leash from his pocket and attached it to the ring.

“You will remain silent until I say so, understand?”

She nodded and he wrapped the leash around his fingers. She was surprised at the length of it. Most leashes she’d seen for BDSM play were shorter, to keep the sub close to their Dom/Domme.

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“You may take your shoes off now.” When she’d done so he nodded. “Follow me.”

He led her down the hall, stopping to open the second door on the right. Once inside her eyes widened. It was a stocked dungeon, with tables and chairs for bondage and equipment hanging from the walls. Her gaze wandered the room, trying to take it all in. Her gaze passed by, then flickered back to a table that held articles of clothing.

Oh, crap. He does have things for me to wear.

He led her to the table and attached her leash to a hook that was on the edge.

“Presents,” he said softly. “Boots, a skirt, and a top. All in leather. Your outfit for the weekend, unless you’re naked for a bondage session, or if we go somewhere else. Sit on the edge of the table and put the boots on.”

She sat down. The table was metal, and very cold against her backside. Her eyes widened when she picked up the first boot. It was long, and would probably hit her mid thigh. The shiny leather boots laced up the sides, but had a zipper on the inside to make them easy to get into and out of. The five-inch heels made Sorcha’s mind reel.

She put her hand in the air and Diego shook his head. “You may not speak. Put them on.”

She unzipped it and pushed her foot into the shoe portion. It fit like a glove.

So much for the excuse they don’t fit.

She zipped it up, the leather cold on her legs, her leash pulling against its hook as she moved.

When she had the second boot on, she lifted her gaze to his.

“Very good. Stand up and let me see.”

She wobbled on the heels and put her hands on the table to steady herself.

His laugh was soft, and not meant to embarrass her, she could tell.

“You’ll be used to them by Monday. You look very sexy. Now the skirt.”

28 Melinda Barron

She picked it up and examined it. It was short, and split up the front. She stepped into it and zipped it up, praying that she didn’t fall off the heels as she moved. The split was right over her pussy, giving him easy access if he wanted it.

At his order, she stood again. He stepped back to look her over and she took advantage of the moment to study his crotch. She could see his cock straining against his jeans. She wanted to see it now, wanted him to take her before they left for the cabin, but she knew it wouldn’t be that easy. He wanted to excite her now, and make her wait. “Now the top.”

It was a halter top, with the neck part snapping in the back. Diego stood back and watched her as she examined it, his perusal making her nervous.

Finally, she wrapped it around her body, hooking the zipper in the front and pulling it up. It was tight, and it pushed her breasts together. She took a deep breath to fasten the two halves together but once it reached her breasts, it would go no further. She slipped her hands down the front to shift her breasts, giving her room to close the zipper. She lifted the two parts of the halter top behind her neck and snapped them together.

The top gave almost no cover to her chest. Her nipples hovered at the edge of the material, which gaped in the middle. One little move and they might plop out for the entire world to see.

“Delicioso y muy caliente. Muy, muy caliente.”

She nodded her thanks. She hadn’t been called hot in years.

He kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes. Who would have thought this would have happened? I’m a leather-clad bondage woman for Diego Fuentes.

“Now, someone needs a spanking. A hard one, don’t you think?”

She bit her lip, but nodded. He caressed her cheek, his thumb tracing her lip.

“Say, ‘I need a spanking, my liege.’”

“I need a spanking, my liege.” The words made her stomach roil.

“Repeat after me. ‘Please punish me for being a bad girl, my liege.’”

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Sorcha swallowed her pride. “Please punish me for being a bad girl, my liege.”

“‘A very bad girl.’” His fingers continued to caress her face, the sensations making her tremble.

“A very bad girl, my liege.”

He stepped back, an evil glint in his eyes. She watched him as he walked to the wall, running his fingers over several floggers that hung from their hooks. He picked one out and flicked it through the air, the sound making her flinch.

“Do you like this one?” He gave her an enquiring glance.

“Um. Yes, my liege?” It looked painful and she licked her lips.

“No. I think not.” He hung it back up and selected another one. “What about this one?

It has knots on the end of the lashes. Nice and stimulating.”

His hissing noise made her shiver and she shook her head. “No. Please, Diego. Not that one.”

“You’re right.” He hung it back up. “I’ve always found that, for a good old-fashioned spanking, you need a good old-fashioned tool, to remind someone that this is punishment, and not for fun.”

He turned to her and unbuckled the belt he was wearing and she shook her head again.

“No. Please.” She hated the belt. Hated the sting that accompanied it. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you; you have to know that. I didn…”

She stopped speaking when he held up a hand.

“Did you hold up your hand? Did I give you permission to speak?” He pulled the belt from its loops and doubled it over in his hands.

She shook her head.

“Do you want to stop playing? Do you want to take the public spanking at Tygers?”

“No, sir.”

30 Melinda Barron

“Turn around.” His deep, authoritative command made her shiver and she immediately obeyed him.

“I know you’ve been spanked before. Get into the proper position.”

Sorcha tucked the back of the skirt into the waistband, baring her behind. She took several steps back, then bent slightly, putting her hands on the table for support. She spread her legs and waited.

“Back up until the leash is tight.”

She did as he said, her heart beating wildly. It had been so long since she’d been spanked, and the image of Diego, the belt in his hand, made her quiver. She wasn’t sure if it was from fear, or anticipation.

He stepped up next to her and trailed the belt over her bare bottom. She jerked, expecting her reaction to bring about a demand for stillness, but none came. When he spoke again, his voice was steely with anger, and right next to her ear. His breath was hot on her neck.

“Don’t you ever, ever do anything to me like you did on Monday night. Do you understand me?”

“Yes, my liege.”

She swallowed a groan when he bit her earlobe, just hard enough to send a jolt of pain through her body. He licked the place he’d bitten; then he stepped back, and let the belt fly across her behind.

This time the groan escaped, and just as the sting had started to fade he landed another lash, right on top of where the first one had landed. A third one turned her groan into a harsh cry. She knew better than to beg him to stop, beg him to make three enough. It would just make the spanking that much harder.

After he’d delivered two more swats, he stepped up and placed his lips against her ear again.

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“You’ll count the remaining strokes, begging to be forgiven, and asking for another. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Let me hear it.”

“Please forgive me for being bad. Please, my liege, may I have another?” She wanted to ask how many more times he was going to swat her ass with the leather, but she knew better. The five swats had made her burn. If she questioned him, he might increase the number and make the trip to Chama very, very uncomfortable.

When the leather landed again, she repeated the words. She’d barely had them out before the second one came, and a third, and a fourth.

The seventh swat made her cringe, and instead of repeating her mantra, she cried out.

“Please, my liege. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry. I’m sorry I was bad.”

The leather was smooth as he ran it over her ass.

“That’s what I wanted to hear.” His voice was soft and almost felt like a caress. “That’s the first time you’ve said you’re sorry. You embarrassed the hell out of me the other night.

Don’t you ever do anything like that again. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my liege.” She shivered when he kissed her shoulder.

“Three more.”

“No. Please, Diego. No. I mean, my liege. Please, it hurts.”

“It’s supposed to hurt. It’s punishment. I was in that handcuff for five minutes. You get two swats for every minute. The first five were for a warm up. You have three more to go.”

He licked her shoulder up to the leather halter, then kissed her neck. “Say it again.”

“I’m sorry, my liege. I’m so sorry.” Tiny tears snaked from her eyes.

“Good girl. We’re almost done. After this it’s nothing but pleasure and submission, all weekend. Understand?”

32 Melinda Barron

She nodded. When he stepped away from her she tightened up her muscles.

“Relax, or it’ll hurt worse. You know that.”

She inhaled sharply, and relaxed on the exhale. The eighth swat landed and she repeated her words; the ninth landed before the word liege left her mouth.

When the tenth swat landed she sighed. “Please forgive me for being bad, my liege. I’m so sorry.”

“Stand up and turn around.” She sniffled as she turned, sucking in grateful air as she watched him thread his belt back through the loop of his jeans.

“We’re done with the spanking, Sorcha. I don’t like to spank, but I’ll do it. I prefer things like floggers for some erotic whipping. Don’t give me a reason to spank you again.”

“Yes, Sir.”

He moved until he was inches away from her, then he sniffed and smiled. “Someone’s pussy’s wet.”

Sorcha lowered her eyes, a bloom of embarrassment spreading across her face. When his hand cupped her pussy, she bit her lower lip.

“I’ll be damned. You’re soaking.”

She shook her head in denial, even as he increased the pressure on her throbbing center.

“Don’t be embarrassed. It just shows how beautifully submissive you are. Even a punishment makes you excited. I’ll have to remember that. Maybe my views on spanking will change.”

He dipped his finger inside, flicking her clit with his thumb, and she closed her eyes in pleasure. It had been so long since a man had touched her that way. Her whole body was on fire, and she wanted to beg him to take her here, now.

He continued to tease her with his finger, her clit pulsing under his touch. She could feel an orgasm building inside her, ready to burst out and send her into sweet oblivion.

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“May I come, my liege?”

“You may not.” He moved his fingers away, sniffed, and held them out to her mouth.

“Clean me.”

She licked him tentatively, then pulled his fingers into her mouth, sucking them hard.

She waited for praise, but none came when he stepped away.

“We’ll get you a coat, and we’re ready to go.” He undid her leash, wrapped it around his hand, and started toward the door.

“What?” She tottered on the heels as she followed him.

He stopped short and turned swiftly, making her run into his chest. She backed up and looked at him.

“I’m half naked. You can’t expect me to ride on a major highway for two hours with my pussy and breasts showing.”

“I do. It’s your punishment for locking me to the wall.”

“You just whipped me for that.”

“I whipped you so that you’d say you’re sorry. This is a little bit of embarrassment, so you can have a taste of what I felt when Ty came in and found me chained to a wall.”

“It’s not fair. It’s…”

“I won’t warn you again about speaking. Next time, I might use the flogger. I have a beautiful one at the cabin, just like the one I just showed you, with soft leather strands with knots at the end. I’ll whip your pussy with it and you’ll really be wet. Now, voice your concerns so we can get them out of the way.”

“What if someone sees me?”

“That’s the idea. You left me chained to a wall for all to see.”

“Diego. Please, no.”

34 Melinda Barron

“A punishment like this is very effective, don’t you think? Now, I’m going to bind your ankles once we’re in the truck. If you keep arguing with me, I’ll do your wrists, too. Now, remain silent.”

He led her from the room and Sorcha’s mind reeled. She was going to be half naked in the cab of a truck for two hours, with her ankles bound. When they entered the living room he went to a closet and took out a long leather duster, which he put around her shoulders.

“There. For going from the house to the truck. Once you’re tied and have your seatbelt on, you’ll shrug it off so I can see all of you.”

He started for the door and she stopped, holding up her hand as he turned to her.

“Yes?”

“My bag and purse?”

“You won’t need them. I’ll provide you with the clothing I want you to wear, and any other essentials.”

Panic set in. “Please, at least my purse? What about my ID?” It had her new cell phone inside, plus a tape recorder, and notebook and paper.

He studied her for a few minutes, then dropped her leash.

“Wait here.”

He picked up her purse and walked to the couch, turning it over and dumping it out.

She watched him put her wallet, keys, and makeup bag inside, then cross to her.

He left the recorder, paper, pens, and phone on the table.

“My phone?”

“No. You’re mine this weekend, remember? Do you not trust me? Do you think you’ll need the phone to call someone? Do you want the contract we discussed?”

She shook her head. “I trust you, but…” She looked longingly at the phone.

“You want the phone as security, instead of a contract?”

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“Yes, my liege. Please.” That, and Ruben might call.

She watched him consider the options before he finally walked to the table and picked up the phone.

“All right. I’ll give you that one concession. But it will be the only one you get without paying a price this weekend. Understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Good. Let’s go. I want to play tonight.”

36 Melinda Barron

Chapter Four

They were almost to Espanola when he broke the silence that had reigned in the car.

“Thirsty?”

She nodded.

“You may speak, mi juguete.”

“Are you going to call me your toy all weekend?”

“Yes.” She could hear the humor in his voice. “I repeat. Are you thirsty?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Good. We’ll go through a drive-through. Have a bite to eat, too.”

Sorcha wiggled on the seat. True to his word, Diego had wound several lengths of nylon cord around her ankles, binding them together. He’d given her a pair of bandage scissors “just in case,” so she could cut the ropes if something happened.

She’d thanked him with a smile.

Now, as he prepared to pull into the small town, she was very aware she was practically nude, with bound ankles for any person to see at the drive-through.

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“Take the coat out from under you,” he said. “You can put it over your bottom half and hide that sweet pussy and bound legs. Once we get outside you’ll uncover for me again.”

She held up her hand.

“Yes?”

“May I take off the ropes in town? So I can wear the coat? My breasts…”

“You may not. I like looking at those beautiful tits. You’re lucky I’m letting you cover the ropes. Are you forgetting what you did to me on Monday?”

“No, Sir. But you’re only letting me cover the ropes because the carhop might see them and call the cops. Of course you are a cop, so you wouldn’t get in trouble.”

“It doesn’t matter if I am a cop. We’re two consenting adults, so we’re not doing anything illegal. Are we?”

“No, my liege.”

“Would you like a hamburger, or cheeseburger? Or something else?”

Diego ordered cheeseburgers, fries, and sodas. After he’d placed the order, he rang the attendant back to make sure there were no onions on the burgers.

Sorcha laughed, despite her unease. Her behind ached from where the belt had marked it, the straps burning. She knew that she’d deserved the spanking, but that didn’t make it hurt any less. Plus, now she had to worry about being seen in these skimpy clothes. When the carhop came to the window, she would see Sorcha’s chest, displayed in all its glory. She’d probably run inside and tell her friends the woman in the truck was half-naked.

“Please, my liege, may I put on the coat?”

For an answer, he leaned over and pushed his hand inside the halter, capturing her breast and squeezing gently. He massaged her until Sorcha moaned; he popped the breast free from the halter and pinched her nipple.

He placed his lips on her neck and gently nibbled on her, licking the spot before whispering, “No, you may not.”

38 Melinda Barron

Sorcha could see the carhop heading toward them. She looked to be in her mid twenties, but that didn’t make Sorcha feel any better.

“Master Diego. She’s coming.”

He continued to squeeze her nipple and nibble her neck. Sorcha shivered under his lips and hand. His touch was magical. They were the only car in the drive-through, true, but the workers were there. As the woman neared the car, he leaned over and suckled Sorcha’s nipple. She groaned when he gently bit it. He straightened and pushed Sorcha’s breast back into the halter. The woman gave them a knowing glance and handed Diego bags of food and two drinks.

Sorcha’s hands shook as she took the drinks from Diego so he could pay the woman.

She put them in the holders and swallowed deeply. She’d never been on display in public before. Well, not in the open. She’d been naked in scenes at Tygers, but this was different.

The waitress knew Diego had been fondling her breast, had been sucking her. When she handed Diego his change, she winked at Sorcha and mouthed, “Lucky you.”

He rolled up the window and they began to eat. Sorcha’s nipples throbbed under the leather, and her pussy was wet. She knew she might be leaving a spot on Diego’s leather seats, since she wasn’t wearing any underwear. They were almost done when he broke the silence.

“Have you ever done bondage before?”

“Only with you, that one time.”

“Bondage is a lot of fun, but it can also be dangerous. It will be your job to let me know if you’re feeling any numbness, or tingling, on your body. It’s easy to cut off circulation, or pinch a nerve during bondage, and we don’t want that.”

“Very true.”

“If you feel tingling or any discomfort at all, you stop me immediately. Understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

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“Good. Now, while the bindings will be tight, they won’t be too tight. The general rule of thumb is you need to leave enough space to get two fingers between the rope and your subbie. I’ll test it throughout, but if you think something is too tight, you have to let me know.”

He started the truck and pulled out onto the main road. “Even if I’ve ordered silence, safety takes precedence. You have to remember that.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“If you feel any kind of panic, tell me. Don’t internalize it. Let me help you deal with it. If you panic, you might struggle, and that can cause injury, from rope burns to worse. It’s very important.”

“I understand, my liege.” His words were scaring her worse than the idea. She didn’t think she’d panic, but she’d only been tied once, and not for very long, but she knew that was about to change.

“Now push the coat down and show me your pussy.”

They’d hit the outskirts of town and Diego was pushing the truck up to highway speed.

When she’d parted the skirt to reveal her pussy, Diego hissed.

“Play with it. What do you want to use for a safe word?”

She stroked herself, her clit throbbing as she did. “Piggy.”

“That’s interesting. Any meaning?”

“No, Sir. It just came to me.”

“Very well. Take your hands away from your pussy.” He pushed the speed up and sighed. “We need to talk about something that’s going to take my idea off a high-speed blowjob. Tell me about your childhood.”

Sorcha laughed, and they talked about growing up, her in Albuquerque and him in Santa Fe. They were discussing their mutual love for football when he slowed the truck and turned off onto a dirt road.

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“We’re here?”

“Almost. It’s a few miles back. Take your breasts out of the halter.”

Sorcha undid her seatbelt and unsnapped the halter, bringing it down to release her breasts. She settled back onto the seat.

“Stroke that clit and listen to me very, very carefully. The first form of bondage we’re going to practice is verbal bondage. I’ll tell you to get into a certain position, and you’ll stay there until I say otherwise. Any deviation from the position brings punishment. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Cut off the ropes on your ankles.”

Sorcha leaned over and cut the bindings. They were loosely tied, more for show than anything else. She knew the gesture had been symbolic, to remind her she was bound to Diego for the weekend.

The truck bumped over the dirt road, and Diego turned to the left, traveling down a winding path before stopping in front of a cabin. Sorcha examined the structure as best she could, since it was dark outside. It seemed large for a cabin, with a wraparound deck that held a table and chairs.

When he stopped the truck he turned to her.

“When you get out of the truck, raise the skirt to your waist. Walk to the deck, arms clasped behind your back. When you’re on the porch, turn to me and stand there, waiting, with your legs spread, head bowed. Do not move or speak until I say so.”

“Yes, my liege.”

Sorcha exited the car and wiggled the tight skirt above her hips. She knew her behind would be red from the spanking, and that the belt would have left definite marks on her skin. The cool air soothed her just a bit. She teetered across the dirt road on her high heels, Sweet Silence

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hoping she didn’t fall and break something. She was conscious of the fact Diego watched her as she walked, and the knowledge made her already aroused pussy pound harder.

She wanted to come. Needed to come. Her clit felt as if it was on fire, and she’d barely touched it in the truck. It was Diego, she knew, who caused that sensation. His domination of her was easy. All he had to do was open his mouth and she was ready to submit.

She carefully climbed the stairs and turned toward the truck, spreading her legs and bowing her head. The headlights illuminated her and she wondered what he was thinking.

What he was doing. Was he jacking off? She knew he’d been hard most of the trip. Was he relieving his own pressure while hers built?

Or was he simply watching to make sure she stood absolutely still? Verbal bondage.

Staying in the exact same position until her Master gave her permission to move. She wanted to lift her gaze to the truck, see if she could make him out. She wondered what he was doing.

Was he just feasting his eyes on her body, the leather wrapped around her but open to reveal her most intimate parts? Her behind throbbed again and she wanted to turn and look at him, beg him to come to her, to relieve her tension.

Her legs and arms began to tremble slightly from being kept in the same position.

Sorcha kept her head down. How many minutes had passed? Four? Five? More? The night air grew colder and she felt goose bumps rise on her flesh.

My liege! Please!

She bit her lip and tried to focus on a pebble that sat on one of the deck boards. Maybe if she focused her energies on that she would be able to stay still.

She almost cried out in relief when the truck door opened. She heard it slam and another one open. She knew he was taking stuff out of the truck, supplies he’d brought for the weekend.

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Leaves crunched under his boots as he walked toward her. In a few minutes he would tell her to stand upright, she knew it. But he didn’t. He passed her by, walked to the front door, and she heard a key turn in a lock. He went inside and Sorcha moaned softly.

“I heard that.” His voice was deep. “That’s a punishment point.”

His footsteps faded inside the house and she groaned inwardly.

Who was he, Superman? How had he heard that soft moan? She wiggled her legs slightly, safe in the knowledge he’d gone inside.

“And another one point. Bad girl. Did I tell you to move, or speak?”

She shook her head. The screen door opened and she heard him set something down behind her. When his hands encircled her hips she bit back a cry of delight. He ran his fingers up and down her thighs, but she stayed still, despite the trembling in her legs.

“Better,” he said. He delivered a sharp slap to her ass, one hand holding her in place.

“Stand up. Move your arms and legs and relax for a few minutes. But no sound.”

Her legs felt like jelly. She moved them and shook her hands, then turned to Diego. He stood next to the item he’d brought outside. Her eyes widened at the sight. It was a chair --

well, not really a chair, more like an old-fashioned banana seat you’d find on a bicycle.

Nestled in the center of it was a large dildo.

“My punishment chair. Bad girls who get points have to sit on the punishment chair.

Each point is two and a half minutes. You have two points so far, so that’s five minutes.

You’ll sit on the cock and remain absolutely still, while I watch, for five minutes.”

Five minutes? Surely he was kidding. She gauged the height of the chair. It looked like her legs would reach the ground, and she could put her feet flat on the ground. That was a good thing.

“Come here.” She walked toward him, hoping at some point he’d let her take the clothing off. But she knew that wasn’t going to happen. He’d said he was visual, and watching turned him on. That meant he liked clothing and other things.

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When she was next to him, she lifted her gaze to him.

“Straddle it. Take the cock deep inside you. Don’t worry, it’s been thoroughly cleaned.

Would you like me to put a condom on it?”

She shook her head, straddling the seat and putting the cock at her entrance. It slid into her wetness easily and Diego murmured his approval. Sorcha swallowed a groan. She hadn’t had anything inside her for so long. Even though she’d rather it was Diego, the dildo felt fantastic.

“Now, stand on your tiptoes.”

When she lifted up, the cock slid out. Diego crossed behind her and the chair began to move. How had she missed that? It was on a hydraulic system of sorts, so it could adjust to different heights, just like a chair in a beauty salon.

The cock moved inside her as the chair rose to meet her behind. When it did, her welts cried out in dismay. Her ass hurt something fierce.

“There. Much better. Stay on your tiptoes. You may put your hands on your thighs for leverage.”

She settled her hands near her knees, bending slightly.

“There,” Diego said. “Stay right there. And let us begin.”

She heard the click of a stopwatch, and the creak of wood as Diego sat down. “Very nice.”

Time seemed to move at a snail’s pace. Her pussy ached with desire and she squeezed the dildo lightly, loving the feel of it deep inside her. Sorcha thought a minute might have passed, maybe two, when the dildo began to vibrate, slow at first, and then faster and faster.

Her already aching pussy and clit contracted and she came, throwing her head back and rocking on the cock, bouncing up and down as the orgasm overtook her, screaming out Diego’s name.

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“Oh, you bad, bad girl. You should have expected that, and been ready for it. Did I give you permission for that orgasm?”

Waves of pleasure rolled through her as she bounced. “Not fair. You’ve been arousing me all night. Not fair.” Her speech was halting as another orgasm overtook her, this one more intense than the first.

“Master Diego. Oh, more, more.” She bounced harder and moved her hands to her clit, stroking the nub and grasping the seat in front of her. A third orgasm shook her body. When her contractions had stopped, she gasped, and looked at Diego.

“You are out of practice. Good little subbies would have never done that.” His voice was low, and sounded angry.

“I’m so sorry. It’s just I was so aroused and…”

“Silence.”

She clamped her mouth shut.

He stared at her and she wondered if he would cancel the weekend, if he would take her back to Santa Fe and tell her she wasn’t disciplined enough for him. If he would take her to his dungeon and whip her again.

When he sighed, she held her breath. “No excuses. How long’s it been since you’ve been fucked by a flesh-and-blood cock?”

“Two and a half years. Since Thomas left.”

“Stand up.” He crossed to her and released the dildo from its harness on the chair. He lifted it to her mouth. “Open.”

He put the toy cock into her open mouth, sliding it back and forth. She tasted her juices as he pushed it back and forth, sliding it in deeper and deeper each time. When she made a choking noise, he stopped until she’d regained her composure, then he started again.

“I was going to fuck you tonight,” he said softly, still fucking her mouth with the dildo.

“But not now. You’re going to have to earn it, and really, it’s punishing me as much as it is Sweet Silence

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you. My subbies are disciplined, Sorcha. They do as they’re told, and don’t have orgasms on the punishment chair. Do you understand me?”

She nodded and he pulled the cock from her mouth.

“I’m sorry, my liege.”

“So am I.” He stroked her hair. “But I suppose it’s understandable, since it’s been so long. Still, you’ll have to atone for it.”

She nodded and lowered her gaze.

“Very good. Now, take the dildo inside and clean it. The bathroom is the first door on the left. There’s cleaner in the cabinet.”

“Yes, my liege.” She started for the door, then turned when he called out her name.

“The next time you have to use the punishment chair, the dildo won’t be in your pussy.

I hope you understand what I mean by that. You lost that privilege.”

She nodded, contracting her anal muscles at the idea.

“Good. Now clean it, and meet me in the living room.”

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Chapter Five

Saturday morning dawned bright. Sorcha stretched her arms above her head. Her shoulders and hips ached from last night, but it was a delicious ache. The pain from the spanking had lessened. She and Diego had spent two hours in the living room, with him putting her in various positions, making her stay that way while he watched silently.

She’d been careful to behave and stay there, and had earned praise each time he’d changed her from sitting to standing, or lying down.

When he’d put her to bed, he’d stroked her arms. “You did well, after your disastrous start. We’ll play again tomorrow afternoon. Don’t worry about waking with me. I want you to sleep all you want. You’ll need your energy.”

The clock blinked 11:10 at her and she gasped. How had she slept so late? She turned to the other side of the bed. It hadn’t been slept in. Where was Diego? She sat up and noticed a note near the clock. Put on the boots and nothing else. Come and find me.

How could she put on anything else? He’d made her leave her clothing at his house.

She sat up and saw her purse on a chair in the corner. She didn’t remember putting it there.

Diego must have brought it in for her. She crossed the room quickly, picked it up, and fished for her phone. The screen showed no missed calls, or voice mails waiting.

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Damn it, Ruben! Hurry up.

She slipped into the boots, actually enjoying the way the leather felt against her legs.

The search for Diego led to the front deck. He sat at a table, calmly reading a newspaper.

“Did you have that delivered?” She stood in the doorway, the cool morning air wrapping around her naked body.

“No, I went into town. Good morning.”

“Good morning, my liege.”

“Come and kneel by me.”

She glanced around and he laughed. “The cabin is set far back. Do as you’re told.”

Once outside, she hurried to his side, kneeling quickly.

“Hungry?”

“Yes, my liege.”

She shivered as he ran his fingers over her breasts. “For what? Food? Or something else?”

“Both.”

“Good answer. Hands behind your back.”

He took a tortilla off his plate, tearing off an edge, and offering it to her. She took it, her hunger growing as she chewed it and swallowed. He fed her the entire thing before offering her a sip of his coffee.

“We’re going to go into town for lunch, so I don’t want to spoil your appetite.”

“Town? But I have no clothes.”

“I brought things for you to wear.”

“The halter? In town?”

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Laughter filled the air. “You think I’m going to tell you? You’ll see it, whether it’s the halter or something else, when I’m ready for you to get dressed.

“First, I’m going to punish you for last night. You were a very bad girl, coming on my punishment chair, not once, but three times.”

Sorcha blushed furiously and looked away.

“Look at me.”

She lifted her eyes to him. “What did you want most last night, Sorcha?”

“Your cock.” The words rushed out of her mouth.

“Buried in your tight cunt?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“That’s exactly what you won’t get. Not right now, anyway.” He cleared his throat.

“Clean off the table, then come and stand next it.”

Sorcha blinked her eyes furiously. He started the day quickly, that was for sure. There wasn’t much on the glass-topped table, just a plate with some tortillas and his coffee mug.

She put them in the kitchen, then stood with her arms behind her back. Diego sat across from her on a seat built into the railing.

“Good. Now, do you remember your job?”

“Yes, my liege. I’m to tell you if I’m feeling any discomfort, of any kind, the minute it starts. If I feel panic, I’m to tell you.”

“Very good. You break those rules and we’ll head back to Santa Fe immediately. I don’t play around with safety.”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Now, I’m going to hog-tie you.”

“OK, I’m panicking.” She backed up and shook her head. “No. Please.”

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Diego laughed softly. “It’s a simple thing, really, but I expected this response. Don’t panic. Take deep breaths and relax.”

“I won’t be able to get loose.”

“That’s the idea. But I’ll be right here, and I won’t let any harm come to you. You trust me, right?”

“Yes, my liege.” And she did. She knew Diego was the foremost bondage expert at Tygers. Still, she was frightened at the idea of being unable to move, of being totally at his mercy. For the first time, she noticed the rope sitting next to him on the bench. He put his hands on it and lifted it up.

“It’s nylon, soft and easy to use. It can cause rope burns, so don’t struggle. Just let me guide you.”

She nodded, her panic subsiding somewhat. He stood and crossed to her, gently stroking her arms after putting the rope on the table.

“Relax, Sorcha. Just relax.”

She nodded and let out several deep breaths, and licked her lips. “I’m ready.”

“The first thing I’m going to do is put a chest harness on you. It will wrap around your breasts, going above twice, and under once. It’ll also go over each shoulder. Then I’ll secure it in the back. When I bind your arms and legs, they will be secured to the chest harness.”

She nodded, and followed his instructions to hold out her arms. She watched him double the rope, then fought off panic as he wrapped it over her breasts. His voice was soft in her ear.

“Relax, mi juguete, just relax.” The rope made passes under and over her breasts, then over her shoulders.

“I’m tying it off now. How’s the pressure?”

“It doesn’t hurt.”

“Is it cutting into your skin?”

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“No, my liege.”

“Very good. Now, lie down on the table, on your stomach. Still feeling all right?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Put your wrists together behind your back.”

When he started to wrap the ropes around her wrists, she took several deep breaths.

“Relax. Usually when I do a hog-tie, I secure the wrists and ankles together. Since you’re a newbie, I’m going to secure all four limbs to the chest harness. Less pressure on the wrists that way.”

“Thank you, my liege.”

“Anything to put your mind at ease, little one.”

After a few minutes, he patted her on the butt. “Try and move your arms, gently.”

She pulled on them. “I can’t. I can…”

“Relax. Take deep breaths. Don’t struggle. Any pain, or rope cutting into the skin?”

“No, my liege.”

“Good girl. We’re almost done. Bend your legs at the knee.”

The leather boots creaked as she followed his instruction. He bound her ankles together; and she felt him wind rope through the harness on her back. When he pulled on the rope, her shoulders lifted slightly. She felt pressure, but not pain, on her shoulders and chest. He tied them together, and stepped back.

“You feeling all right?”

“Yes, my liege.” Sorcha’s breath came in short, shallow gulps. She was excited, yet just a little frightened at the same time. The only thing that kept her from panicking was Diego’s calming presence. He tested the ropes to make sure they weren’t too tight and she moaned softly.

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“Remember, at the first sign of pain or panic, you tell me. Otherwise, remain absolutely silent. No moans. No nothing, unless you are asked a direct question. Understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

He stepped in front of her and began to unbutton his jeans. Sorcha knew this was coming, knew he was going to show her what she couldn’t have. She was going to see his cock, see the piercing she’d heard about from other subs. She kept her eyes glued to him, her idea of panic totally forgotten.

When his jeans were totally unbuttoned he reached inside and stroked himself.

“Are you my toy for the weekend?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“What does my toy want?”

“To submit, my liege.”

“Good answer. You look so beautiful all tied up for me. My dick is pounding for you.

Would you like to see it?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Say please.”

“Please, my liege.” Sorcha’s voice cracked with need.

“Please what?”

“Please let me see your cock, my liege.”

He grinned at her and shook his head. “How’s that ass?”

“Sore.”

“I’m glad. It reminds you to…” He left the words hanging and Sorcha blinked her eyes rapidly.

“To follow your orders, my liege?”

“Is that a question, or a statement?”

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“Statement. It reminds me to follow your orders.”

He nodded. He had both hands inside his pants now.

She could tell he was stroking himself slowly, and he finally pulled it loose. His cock sprang forth as if in search of something. She hoped that something was her. He was long and thick, and the silver ring twinkled from the end.

She fought back a moan and closed her eyes.

“Good girl. Very good girl.” He stepped toward her and tested the pressure on her bindings. “Just a little while longer. I love seeing you all tied up like this. Would you like a taste of my cock?”

“Yes, my liege, please.” She almost laughed at the eagerness in her voice.

Diego stepped in front of her, stopping where she couldn’t reach him with her mouth.

“Stick out your tongue.” When it was fully extended, he moved to where she could just touch the tip of his cock ring. She eagerly tasted the silver, trying to move in to taste his cock. The movement pulled on her bonds and she moaned softly.

“Pain?” There was concern in his voice.

“No, just a lot of pressure.”

He moved away and sat back down on the bench, his hand stroking his cock.

“If you’re a good girl tonight, you can taste my cock. It’ll fit perfectly in your mouth, your pussy, and your ass. I’m going to claim all three holes tonight, if you behave. I’m going to make you mine.”

His words made her shiver as he continued to stroke himself, his movements increasing. She tried to wrap her mind around the fact that she was hog-tied on a table, watching Diego masturbate.

“So fucking beautiful, and all mine,” he groaned out as his cum shot into the air. “Fuck, yeah.”

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He caught some on his fingers, stood quickly, and walked to her.

“Taste.”

His hand stroked his cock as she sucked his fingers into her mouth, his cum tasting sweet and sticky. She noticed his hand motions had increased, and when his fingers were clean, he stepped toward her.

“Arch your back, and open for me.”

She opened her mouth as he shot another stream into her mouth.

“Swallow.” His words sounded strangled. “Swallow it all.”

The pressure on her bonds was incredible and she fought back a delicious moan.

Finally, when he’d given her yet another taste, she said, “Pressure, hurts.”

He pulled on a rope and the pressure was gone. Her legs fell back and she sighed.

“Thank you, my liege.”

“Thank you, my Sorcha. I hope you liked that.” He stroked her hair, his touch gentle.

“I loved it.”

He cleaned himself with a towel that sat near his extra rope. He put his cock away and began to untie her.

As the bonds loosened, Sorcha felt a sense of loss. It had been incredible to be bound for him, to have him see her like that. When the ropes were gone, he rubbed her shoulders.

“Relax for a few minutes, then sit up slowly. Remain silent.”

She sat up, and watched with bated breath when he took a rope from the table and threaded it through the D-ring on her collar. He wrapped it around his hands, and pulled her to him, his lips coming down on hers in a punishing kiss.

His free hand captured her jaw as he pushed away.

“Open for me.” He came back down and pushed his tongue inside her mouth. The pressure was intense, and Sorcha’s body hummed in answer to him.

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He broke away and stared down at her, his thumb tracing her jaw.

“Stroke that clit. Come for your Master. Pinch it. Hard!”

Sorcha cried out as she followed his command. His mouth came down on hers again as she came, swallowing her cry of delight. He pushed her finger aside and pinched her clit again, sending her spiraling out of control as he pulled tighter on the rope.

She was flush against his body, her own quaking with pleasure.

“All mine.” His voice was dark and Sorcha quivered. “Mi juguete.”

“My liege.” She pressed her forehead into his chest and sniffed. He smelled so good.

Like soap and strong male.

He pulled the rope in her D-ring tighter, lifting her face to his. “Did I give you leave to speak?”

She shook her head. His eyes flashed dangerously and she swallowed hard.

“I thought not. One point for the chair. Plus, you cried out when you came. Which is at least two or three more points. Shall we go into town and see what the rest of the day brings?”

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Chapter Six

Rather than go into Chama, Diego opted to drive the two hours to Durango, Colorado.

The drive would provide them with beautiful scenery as the trees turned from their bright summer greens to brilliant fall orange and red. It would also give him time to get his emotions under control. Sorcha affected him much more than he thought she would.

This morning he’d been tempted to claim her, to tell her he wanted her to be his sub 24-7. And he didn’t claim subs. He’d had one collared sub in his life. Marie. She’d been too fragile for what he wanted. She hated bondage, and would cry before submitting. Diego let her go after the second time. He didn’t want to force a woman into bondage; he wanted one who gloried in it, as Sorcha had done that morning.

The more rope he put on her, the more excited she had become. By the time he’d finished the hog-tie her juices had soaked her thighs and provided him with a heavenly scent that made him want to rip her bindings off and bury himself deep inside her.

He’d stopped himself in time, though, knowing it was too soon for that. He would take her tonight, first in that sweet pussy, and after that, in her pretty little ass that still bore the marks from his punishment. He glanced at her. She sat straight as he’d ordered her to do, looking out the window at the beautiful scenery.

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She wore a loose black skirt and a tight, low-cut red sweater. He’d picked them out with her body in mind. The heels weren’t as high as the boots, because they would be doing some walking, but they showed off her legs. He’d had her lift the skirt to mid thigh.

His cock sprang to life as he watched her. “Spread your legs.”

She obeyed, but remained silent.

“You’re doing so very well. Stroke your clit and talk to me.”

A giggle escaped her lips and his cock pushed against its bonds.

“This is so beautiful,” she whispered, as she stroked herself gently. “It’s been years since I’ve been in this area in the fall. All the colors, and the smell in the air.”

She sniffed and he was glad that he’d left the windows open just a bit, to let the cool air come inside.

“I love the outdoors,” Diego said. “As you can tell.”

“Yes, Sir.” She smiled at him. “Do you have plans for this afternoon?”

“Nothing special. I thought we’d walk the square, do a little shopping. Eat some dinner.

Do some public fucking.”

She whipped her head toward him.

“Excuse me?”

“What’s wrong? Never been fucked in a public place?”

“No, Sir.”

“Well, there’s a first time for everything. Don’t worry, there’s only a fifty-fifty chance we’ll get caught and sent to jail.”

“Diego! I don’t want to go to jail.”

“Neither do I. And that little slipup is worth three points. You’re up to seven, at least.

And remember where I told you the dildo would be going tonight?”

“Yes, my liege.”

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“Where?”

“My ass, my liege.”

“That’s right. It’ll open you up for me. Now, silence for the rest of the trip.”

She nodded and turned her head toward the scenery. He smiled as he navigated the road. Despite her original objections, he knew Sorcha was up for anything. She just might be the perfect sub for him. He wondered what it would feel like to have a permanent sub, to have a woman he would be bound to in more ways than ropes and chains.

Waking up with her and sleeping with her would be perfect. He hadn’t slept with a woman in his arms for ten years. He liked to cuddle with a woman, liked to feel her soft body pressed close to his own. But he’d denied himself that pleasure for a long time. Maybe he’d try it tonight, see how it went.

They’d just hit the outskirts of town when her cell phone rang. She jumped and looked at him.

“Aren’t you going to answer it?”

“May I?”

“Of course. I don’t control that part of your life.”

She nodded and pulled it from her bag just as it quit ringing. It started again seconds later and she whispered, “Hello? Yeah? OK. Thanks.”

She hit the end button without saying good-bye and he frowned.

“Family member?”

“No.”

“Job offer?”

She straightened her shoulders and shrugged. “Um, yes, it was about a job. I have to do an interview on Monday, at a small paper.”

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“That’s good, right? It’s small, yeah, but it’s getting back to work where you need to be.”

“Yes, Sir, it is.” She put the phone back in her purse and he frowned.

“You don’t seem excited. I would think after two long years you’d do more than whisper to a potential employer and not jump for joy.”

“I’m excited, very excited.”

“Yeah, I can tell.” He wove the truck through town, heading toward the square that housed many different shops and attractions. His mind wandered as he searched for a parking space. She was lying to him. There was no way that brief, cryptic phone call had been about a job interview.

He parked the truck in a lot and turned to her.

“You have a man in your life?”

“No, my liege.”

“You sure? You can tell me; we’re not exclusive.” Although, I want us to be.

“No, Sir.”

“If I find out you’re lying to me…well, I hate lies.”

“I’m not, I swear. No man in my life.”

He traced her lips with his thumb. He locked his gaze upon her and was gratified when she didn’t move her gaze away from his own.

“Good. Let’s go shopping.”

* * * * *

“It’s so expensive,” Sorcha whispered. “Besides, I don’t need it.”

“I do.” He held the emerald bead choker up to her neck and smiled.

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“Why don’t you try it on her?” The sales lady nodded her head vigorously. “It looks so beautiful with her coloring, and it even looks wonderful with that sweater. So very pretty.”

“Yes, she is.” Diego’s words caressed her as he fastened the choker around her neck.

Sorcha shook her head before he’d moved his hands away.

“I can’t afford it.”

“She’ll wear it out,” Diego told the clerk.

“Very good.” She took Diego’s credit card and moved toward the register.

“This is three hundred dollars.”

“Yes, and I consider it a collar for you to wear in public.”

“And then what, you’re going to return it after this weekend?” She winced inwardly at the look that crossed his face. “Diego.”

“Don’t argue with me. It’s a gift. And refusing a gift is bad luck.”

“I’ve had enough of that lately.”

“That’s right, so you need to take this and stop arguing with me.” He traced the beads and she smiled.

“Yes, my liege.” She leaned toward him and kissed his cheek. He didn’t pull away from her, or try to force her to stop. He stayed right where he was, his fingers resting on the beads. Their gazes locked and guilt washed over her. She should tell him about the phone call from Ruben, let him know she was still chasing the story, and she needed to get back to Albuquerque early Monday so she could travel the three hours up to Farmington and talk to Joseph Black Hawk.

“Diego.” Her voice was soft. “I…”

“Hush, mi juguete. Or I’ll swat your bottom right here. I bet the clerk would love that.”

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She shook her head. The very, very full skirt he’d given her would muffle any feeling from a hand swat, she knew. Plus, there was no way he’d spank her here. Or was there? She knew with Diego anything was possible.

The clerk returned and Diego signed the charge slip. He put the box for the necklace into one of the several other bags he already carried; then they headed outside.

“Where now?”

“There’s an outdoor shop just down the way. They sell some great rope at inexpensive prices. I think I’ll stock up.”

“Planning a party?”

“Yes, and you’re the guest of honor.”

They walked down the street, stopping at times to discuss things they saw in store windows, or the paintings they saw in a museum front. Once inside the outdoor shop, Sorcha knew she’d been duped.

“Diego! Long time no see. Welcome, welcome. Who’s your little subbie?”

“This is Sorcha. Sorcha, say hello to Master Blair.”

“Hello, Master Blair.” She glanced at the clerk.

“Sorcha, huh? Nice. And don’t worry, my wife, and sub, knows I’m a Master.”

“Come on, let’s visit the back room. I was going to call you soon and let you know I’ve got some great new rope. Eight millimeter and six millimeter. Purple. It’ll look beautiful lying on her skin.”

“Yes, it will,” Diego said as he propelled Sorcha across the store. Blair’s wife smiled at her as they moved past the counter that held camping gear. They went through a storeroom and Blair opened a door leading to another room.

Sorcha’s eyes widened as she stepped inside. There were cases holding many different types of rope and leather bondage equipment.

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“I just designed a new rope swing. I haven’t marketed them yet, but I’d be honored if you’d take one and try it out for me. The only one I’ve used it on is Kristy. She likes it, but I’d love for you to try it on your new subbie. Let me know how it works.”

“Be happy to,” Diego said. Sorcha’s eyes widened further as she stared at the chair. It didn’t look sturdy enough to hold her weight. Plus, it was suspended from…

“Um, my liege?” Her voice was soft.

“Hush, Sorcha. Silence until I say otherwise.”

She listened to Blair tout the many features of the swing, how a subbie would lie on her stomach, or back, and how the swing could hang from a steel frame, the ceiling, or from a tree.

Sorcha knew Diego would choose the latter. He loved the outdoors, and almost everything they’d done this weekend had been outdoors. She closed her eyes. The verbal bondage from last night had been the only thing he’d done indoors, and that had been in his living room. He hadn’t done one thing to her in his dungeon. He’d brought the chair outside, and this morning he’d hog-tied her on the outside table.

She knew later tonight she would be in that chair, suspended from the large tree that sat to the side of Diego’s cabin. She wondered if the ropes would hold her weight, if they would bite into her skin.

Despite her apprehension, a trickle of excitement started in her nipples and spread through her body. Would he fuck her? Would he swing her back and forth so she would slide on and off his cock, her body suspended in midair? She hoped so. She could only imagine how fantastic it would feel. His cock sliding in and out of her pussy. Or would it be her ass? Either one would do just fine and --

“Sorcha!”

“Master?”

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“Stop daydreaming and come over here. I’ve been calling your name for the last few minutes, you bad girl.”

“I’m sorry, my liege.”

“So I am. Two more minutes in the chair.”

She nodded and bit her lip, then looked down at the case he stood in front of.

“Nipple clamps,” Diego said softly. “You want the ones with the little floggers on the end, or the ones with the bells?”

“I don’t know.” She laughed nervously.

“Well, the flogger ones will move around, tease your breasts with gentle strokes. The bell ones will be fun to hear. Choose.”

“The bells?”

“Excellent,” Diego said, cupping her breast and squeezing. “Let’s try them out. Take your sweater and bra off.”

She followed his instructions quickly, afraid if she didn’t, he’d make her get totally naked. He massaged her breasts as Blair watched, tweaking her already hard nipples until they felt like little pebbles of stone.

He attached the clamps, adjusting them so they were not too tight. She stifled a moan and he nodded his approval.

“Walk for us. Let’s hear them tinkle.”

Sorcha walked around the room, the bells tinkling as she moved.

“Not bad, huh? Of course, when she’s in the chair, swinging back and forth, the sound will be louder.”

“Very yummy,” Diego said. “Better give us two pair. One for those beautiful tits, the other for her hungry little clit.”

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Chapter Seven

“So tell me about this job interview on Monday.” They sat in the park, the day drawing to a close. In about thirty minutes, the sun would begin to set. There weren’t many people around, just a few couples who had staked out the prime spots under trees.

Diego had found them a great area, and they’d laid out food they’d bought at a supermarket. Fried chicken, cheese, grapes, and some bread. Sorcha took a sip of her water to try and think up a believable lie.

“It’s no big deal.”

“You’re kidding me, right? You’ve been without a job for two years and it’s no big deal?”

“Why are you interrogating me about this?”

“Because I think your reaction is strange. You should be flying, but you’ve been very subdued.”

“They never work out.” That much was true. “No matter how many interviews I go on, someone always tells them I’m the woman who accused an innocent man in print.”

“Time to change that.”

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“True. Plus, this is your weekend, remember? I’m to submit to you until Monday. I didn’t want to bring up my personal business.”

He plucked a grape from the bunch and popped it into his mouth. “What if I want to hear? Spread your legs.” He lay down on his side, bending his arm so he could prop his head up.

She did as he said, and gasped as he pushed her skirt aside and pushed a grape into her wetness. Her gaze darted from side to side to see if anyone had noticed. She gasped again when he slid three more inside her.

“This is why I chose the very full skirt,” Diego said. “Soon we’ll fuck, lying on our sides.

People will think we’re just cuddling.”

He moved his hand out from under the clothing.

“Who’s it with?”

“What?” She could feel the grapes inside her.

“The interview, who’s it with?” He reached under the skirt and stroked her pussy, pushing his finger inside and pulling out a grape, which he held up to her mouth. “Hungry?”

When she opened her mouth, he chuckled, and popped the fruit into his own mouth.

“You can have the next one. Answer my question.”

“Hungry, no. We just ate.”

He cocked his head and frowned at her.

“It’s a small monthly paper.”

“Called?”

“Diego, why is this…”

“Answer me.” He took another grape from her pussy and pushed it into her mouth. The difference between the tart fruit and her juices actually tasted good and she moaned.

“Why are you being like this?”

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“Because I think you’re lying to me.” He took out the other two, putting them in his palm and placing his hand in front of her face. “Eat them, one at a time.”

She bent and sucked them in, chewing slowly while she thought of an answer. Damn, I hated lying to him. When she’d eaten the second one, she sat up.

“La Voz.”

“The Voice? And this is in Albuquerque?”

“Yes. It’s a Bernalillo County thing.”

“That’s all you had to say. Why the secrecy?”

“I’m not being secret. This is your weekend, remember? I wanted it to be only about you.”

That was true, at least. She’d enjoyed herself so much, enjoyed being with him and enjoyed the wonderful things he’d done to her body, the way he’d controlled her just with words, the way he’d taught her how sweet silence could be during submission. She hated lying to him about the phone call, but she knew that if she told him she was chasing the story, instead of concentrating on submitting he’d be angry. Very angry. Probably angry enough to end the whole thing and she didn’t want that to happen.

If her luck turned, maybe Diego would want to see her after this weekend. She could only hope. A man like Diego wouldn’t want her permanently. Everyone knew he didn’t take subs on a long-term basis. Still, a girl could dream. And if that happened, and after the story had run, she’d tell him the truth. He’d probably punish her, but it would be worth it.

She laughed when he handed her a condom package. “Open this for me.”

His free hand unbuttoned his jeans, freeing his cock, which sprang forth, hard as a rock. She moaned at the sight.

“Touch me, Sorcha. Stroke it.”

It was the first time he’d allowed her to touch his cock and her hand shook slightly as she ran her fingers over the satiny flesh.

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“Oh yeah, harder, baby. That’s a good subbie. Stroke your Master.”

She increased the pressure, toying with the ring and making him laugh softly.

“You’re fascinated by my piercing.”

“Yes.”

“We can get you pierced, you know. Nipples and a clit hood bar, with a nice slave ring that fits right around your overactive clit and would make you come very, very hard.”

“If you pierce my nipples, you can’t tease them with the clamps you just bought.”

“Wanna bet?” The wicked look on his face made her shiver.

“Put the condom on my dick. Be careful and don’t rip it on the ring.”

She stretched the latex to cover the ring, then slid it up his length. He pulsed under her touch and she moaned softly.

“Now, lie down with your back to me. Your silence starts now.”

“We can’t…”

“Two minutes in the chair. Do as you’re told.”

“But, Diego.”

“Four more. Two for arguing, and two for calling me Diego. Do it now, or your ass will be full all night.”

“We’re in public. My liege, you can’t fuck me here!”

“Ten more for telling me what I can, and can’t do. That’s sixteen. You’re ass is going to be sore. Do as you’re told. Right. Now.”

His tone had turned serious and Sorcha didn’t want to risk any more minutes. It had been forever since she’d taken anything anally, and although she loved it, she was sure it would be quite uncomfortable. And she had no doubt Diego would put her in the chair the minute they returned to his cabin.

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She bit her lip, and moved swiftly when he said, “Five more for hesitation. Do I need to go on?”

She pushed back against him, shivering when his hot breath tickled her neck.

“Silence, subbie, until I say otherwise. Don’t forget.”

He massaged her breasts and she pushed her hips back against him. She wanted it so bad. Needed it. But in public? True, there were few people around, but they were there, just the same. The couples were kissing and laughing. Diego pushed the skirt up so it bared her bottom, but left her front covered. He moved her leg over his own and she felt his hard cock probing for entrance.

He gently thrust back and forth, his cock not entering, but sliding through her wetness.

He clasped her hand in his and gently bit her neck, not breaking the skin, but causing a sharp sting as he slid his cock into her pussy. Sorcha tensed at the sharpness of the bite, and groaned under her breath.

“So tight,” he whispered. “So fucking tight. Oh crap. Oh.” He pushed further in and she tried to buck back against him to bring him deeper inside her.

He nipped at her neck. “Hold still. I’ll be coming in two seconds flat if you don’t.”

They lay there silently, not moving, his cock pulsing inside her. Sorcha thought she would go nuts. She wanted to ram herself back at him, beg him to take her, take her hard.

Make her his.

After a few minutes of sweet agony, he thrust harder, pushing his whole cock into her and putting his hand over her mouth to cover her groan.

“That’s a freebie,” he whispered as he started to slide in and out of her. “No points for that moan.”

He put his hands on her hips and started to fuck her in long, even strokes. The sun had started to fall, and the park was almost dark, the old-fashioned gaslights providing little illumination.

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One couple got up and Sorcha feared they would come over to them, catch them fucking. Diego continued to fuck her, his pace slow and steady as she watched them gather their things and leave, laughing and joking with each other. What would they think if they knew the couple across from them was fucking? When they were gone, Diego tightened his grip on her hip, pushing her onto her stomach and mounting her fully.

“My liege,” she whispered. “We can’t…”

He lay flat against her, his body pressing her into the ground. His laughing, “two more points,” rang in her ears. “How many is that?”

“Twenty-three,” she whispered.

“We’ll do twenty-five, just to have a good, even number.”

He increased the pace of his thrusting, his cock sliding deeper and deeper inside her.

Sorcha grasped the blanket under her. It felt so naughty, fucking while strangers were close by. And it felt so fantastic. She didn’t want it to end. She wanted him to stay inside her.

Forever.

When it was fully dark, he brought her up to her knees, wrapping his legs around her so he could thrust harder and harder. He pushed her head down to the blanket as he rode her, harder and harder, faster and faster. By this time Sorcha didn’t care who saw. She knew anyone who looked their way would know exactly what was happening.

Her Master was taking her doggy style in the middle of a public park. Anyone could see them. Anyone could watch them. And she didn’t care. She loved every minute of it. Every thrust. Every contraction.

Each thrust pushed the ring against her vaginal walls, sending shock waves of new sensations through her. He thrust deeper and deeper and the ring hit her G-spot. Her body tensed and she fought off the orgasm.

“Master,” she whispered. “Oh, Master.”

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She clenched her muscles around him as he slammed his cock into the same spot, over and over and over again.

“Fuck, yeah. Good girl. Who’s your Master?”

“Master. Diego. You. Are. I. Need… Oh. Please.” Her words came on short, halting breaths.

“Come for me.” He pounded himself into her, the sound of their fucking evident. The hits on her G-spot sent her spiraling. When Diego found her clit and pinched it hard, she screamed out his name, contracting around his cock as it pulsed inside her. She felt his cock expand in her pussy and she knew he was coming, too. He pushed into her with hard, fast thrusts, groaning her name in her ear.

She shivered under him as aftershocks rocked her body. “Master.”

“Turn, look.” She turned her head toward the park, her eyes adjusting to the dark. The couple closest to them was watching them intently. Despite the dark she could see their excited expressions, making it obvious that they enjoyed what they saw.

When she and Diego collapsed onto the blanket, the couple clapped.

“Bravo,” the man said. “You gave her a great ride.”

The woman giggled and Sorcha gasped for air as Diego’s hands caressed her.

“Why, thank you,” Diego said, his voice shaky with exertion. “We’re glad you enjoyed it as much as we did.”

* * * * *

Ten miles outside of Durango, Sorcha feel asleep, her head resting on Diego’s thigh. He caressed her arm and smiled to himself as he drove.

He’d found her. The one sub who interested him. He couldn’t wait to see her reaction to the next thing he proposed, or the next. The swing sat in the cab behind them, itching to be used. He would put her in it, on her belly, and bind her arms behind her.

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He’d put his cock inside her ass and ride her until they were both screaming. Damn, this woman made him feel like he was on fire. Why hadn’t he noticed it when he’d done a scene with her all those years ago?

He’d thought she was pretty, yes, and he’d loved her curves and her breasts, but she had belonged to Thomas, and Diego never poached on another Dom’s territory. It was one of the reasons why he’d never had a permanent sub, except for Marie.

He tickled her cheek, and jumped when his cell phone rang. He grabbed it from the console and snapped it open.

“What?”

“Nice to hear your voice, too.”

“Ward? What the fuck? I’m busy right now. Call me Tuesday.”

“Wait, Diego! Don’t hang up. Where are you?”

“I just left Durango. Why? Is something wrong?”

Diego listened as Ward talked, then let out a string of expletives.

“Job interview my ass.”

“Excuse me?”

“Nothing. How’d you know she was with me?”

“Ty. I mentioned your name to him last night and he said you’d taken a new sub to your cabin. When her name came up this afternoon, I knew where to find her.”

“Great. It’ll take us a while to get there. I want to stop at my cabin.”

“I’ll meet you at the offices in Santa Fe.”

“Thanks a lot.”

He snapped the phone shut and threw it back onto the console. He was tempted to wake her up, confront her with what he’d just learned, but it would do no good. Best to let her sleep until they got to the cabin.

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He fumed as he drove, planning what he needed to do to get her out of the mess she was now in. He wanted her too badly not to help her. But she wasn’t making things easy.

She stirred as they reached Chama, sitting up and stretching.

“Morning,” she said with a laugh.

“Not yet,” he replied, pulling onto the dirt road that led to his cabin.

“What’s wrong?”

“Don’t talk to me right now.”

“What? What happened? Why?”

“Hush, Sorcha. Just hush and let me think.”

She scooted over to the edge of the cab, a mixed look of hurt and anger invading her face.

He stopped in front of the cabin and exited quickly, leaving his things in the truck. She followed after him.

“Why are you mad?”

“Because you lied to me. Job interview? Or a call giving you illegal information?”

She pulled back with a start and he nodded.

“That’s what I thought.”

He went inside and searched for a phone book, opened it quickly, and punched in a number on his cell phone. He pointed to a chair.

“Sit.”

She shook her head at him angrily. “No fucking way.”

“I said sit.” He put the call on speakerphone and a man’s voice filled the room.

“Zia A-1 Bail Bonds.”

“Jack?”

“Diego? What’s up, my man?”

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“Can you meet me at the state police offices in Santa Fe, about three hours from now?”

“Sure. You’re not being arrested, are you?” Jack chuckled and the bottom dropped out of Sorcha’s stomach.

Diego fixed an angry stare on her, shaking his head.

“No. But my lover is.”

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Chapter Eight

“You can’t do this to me. Please!” Sorcha turned to Diego.

“Put your seatbelt back on. And I’m not doing it to you. You did it to yourself when you hired Ruben what’s-his-name to hack into a government computer to get you information. Ward said he gave you up in two minutes flat to save his own skin.”

“Take me to Albuquerque. Let me leave for Farmington and --”

“No. They’ll go easier on you if you turn yourself in. I’ll bail you right back out. You won’t spend hardly any time behind bars, if any at all.”

Sorcha’s breath left her lungs. She started to gasp and Diego patted her thigh in a reassuring fashion.

Time behind bars? Oh, lord, he wa serious

s

.

“Put your head between your knees. Take deep breaths and don’t panic.”

She did as he said and he rubbed her back. “Why did you do it?”

“Why do you think? You wouldn’t talk to me! Eric wouldn’t talk to me! Angel wouldn’t talk to me!”

“So your solution is not to wait, as any level-headed person would do, but to hack into a government computer to try and find the location of a hidden witness? Shit, Sorcha. What 74 Melinda Barron

if that information had fallen into Jaymes’s hands, huh? What if he killed Joseph Black Hawk and his family? How would you feel then?”

“Don’t yell at me.”

“Somebody needs to! Fuck!” He pulled off the road and put the truck into park. He turned to her.

“Listen. This won’t be that hard. We’ll go, and they’ll book you --”

“No!” Sorcha shook her head furiously and Diego held up his hand, raising his voice.

“They’ll book you, and I’ll bail you right out. You and I will search for information for your story. Together.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“Obviously, you do. If Jaymes comes after you, it won’t be handcuffs you’re wearing but cement shoes, if you get my meaning.”

She nodded.

“I’m not letting you out of my sight. We’ll live together, eat together, shower together, sleep together.”

“Oh no, we won’t.”

‘Oh yes, we will. If for no other reason being that you still owe me two days, and twenty-five minutes in my chair.”

She laughed, then started to cry, her shoulders rocking as the sobs left her body.

“Don’t let them see you cry, Sorcha. I know you’re strong. That’s what you show them, your strength.”

“I’ve never been arrested before.” She turned to him and he wiped her tears with his thumbs, cradling her face in his hands.

“I know. I’ll be with you the whole way. I promise. Trust me to be there for you.”

“I do. I’m just so frightened. It was so wrong of me, I know, but --”

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“Shush. Later, we’ll discuss it later. You know, Sorcha, that one night I played with you, I was very attracted to you. If it hadn’t been for Thomas, I would have liked to play with you more. You fascinate me.”

She sniffled out a laugh. “Right.”

“It’s true. I remember everything about that night, from the look on your face to the way you moaned, the way you trembled. I remember how excited you were. I wanted to give you my cock then, but I don’t fuck other Doms’ subbies, unless they offer her to me.”

“Really? Or are you just saying that to stop my crying?”

“You’ll learn that I mean what I say, always.”

She gave him a tentative smile and he put the truck back into gear. When they were fifteen minutes outside of Santa Fe, he called Ward.

“We’re almost there. Is Jack there yet?”

“He’s here, but you don’t need him. I got a judge to agree to release her into your custody after we book her.”

“That’s great news. See you in a bit.”

“What’s great news? They’re not going to arrest me?”

“Oh, they’re going to arrest you, all right. But I’m going to be your jailer.”

Sorcha snorted, then covered her mouth. “Sorry.”

“That’s OK, jailbird. The judge releasing you to me may have gone easy on you, but I’m not going to.”

* * * * *

“When did you hire him?” Ward McGovern sat back in his chair and stared at Sorcha.

“Thursday morning. He and I went to school together. I knew he did stuff like this.”

“Yes, he does,” Ward said. “He’s in trouble for several things, and he tried to use your name for leverage, to lighten his load.”

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“Jerk.”

Diego laughed. “When did he get in?”

“Thursday night. He didn’t get anything, though. A programmer noticed the intrusion Friday morning, and we caught him Friday afternoon. He gave up your girl quick, and, like I said, it was a happenstance meeting with Ty that let me know she was with you.”

Sorcha wiped the towel over her fingers again. She could still feel the ink from the fingerprinting process. Crap. I have a record. So much for finding a job.

“What happens now?”

“Now they charge you with felony records tampering. Two to five years.”

Sorcha bit back a cry as Diego’s words echoed in her ears. “Be strong. Show them your strength.”

“What if she can give you something?” Diego asked.

“Like what? She has nothing.”

“Don’t be so sure about that,” Sorcha said. “I bet I can find out something about Jaymes you can use.”

“Like what? We have a man on the inside who is feeding us information, and he can’t give us stuff to use.”

“That’s because he’s following the law.”

Sorcha returned Ward’s stare. Finally, he turned to Diego.

“You going along with this?”

“If it keeps her out of prison, yes.”

“I can’t promise that. But it would help.” He turned back to Sorcha. “What do you have in mind?”

“Well, I know the judge threw out the books Joseph Black Hawk took, saying there was no proof they belonged to Jaymes.”

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“How’d you hear that?” Ward narrowed his eyes at Diego.

“Not from me.” Diego held up his hands.

“No. From a reporter at the Trib. I still have some contacts. So, your chances of convicting him on these charges are slim.”

“True,” Ward confirmed. “Which pisses me off. He might get two to five for threatening Diego and Eric, but for the most part, we’re screwed.”

“What if I could find evidence about a different crime?”

“Like what?”

“Like a former employee who got the shaft?”

“And who might that be?” The silence grew, and finally, Sorcha sighed.

“My cousin, Tony Morales.”

Diego spoke after several long minutes. “Your cousin is Tony Morales?”

“Yes.”

“I arrested him five years ago,” Ward said. “He got fifteen years for extortion and money laundering and is in prison in Las Cruces.”

“He did those things for Dustin Jaymes. You knew that.”

“Yeah, but I couldn’t prove it, because your cousin refused to talk.”

Sorcha swallowed deeply. “What if he could give you something you could use?”

“Like what? You think a judge is going to listen to a convict? The lawyers will say he’s giving us information on Jaymes to cut his sentence.”

“What if all he wanted was protection from Jaymes, inside the prison? What if he would serve out his time?”

“For giving us information on illegal gambling and money laundering? I’m afraid that time is long past for him.”

“What about on murder?”

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“I’m listening.” There was steel in Ward’s voice and Sorcha tried to steady her nerves by clenching her fists.

“Do you remember that prison guard who was killed two years ago in the private facility near White Sands?”

“Yes. Shanked by an inmate, who killed himself. They always thought another person helped. Was it your cousin?”

“No! He’s not even there. But Tony knew the man. They both worked for Jaymes over the years. A week after the man was killed, Tony had a visitor, a woman he’d never met. Said her husband was the man who was murdered, the prisoner. He’d given her tape-recorded information, featuring Dustin Jaymes’s main worker, ordering the hit on the guard. She said if he was ever in trouble, her husband had said to give it to Tony, to help him, you know, in a trade type of thing.”

She watched Ward as he processed the information. Finally, he nodded. “So Jaymes ordered the hit on the guard? Why?”

“He was paying the guard to smuggle things to his workers inside. The guard demanded more and more money. Finally, Jaymes refused.”

“And you have this all on tape?”

“No. My cousin knows a woman who does.”

“And why would Tony help me?”

“I know that he lives in fear of Jaymes. If you could promise him protection, it would help.”

“I can arrange that. But we have to be careful about getting the information. If we pull him out, it looks suspicious. But if his cousin comes to visit…”

“I’ll leave right now. I want an exclusive on this. First rights, before any other media.”

“I can’t promise you that,” Ward said.

“You can and you will,” Sorcha said with a frown. “First rights, or I walk.”

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Ward snorted out a laugh. “Right. Did you forget that you just got arrested? If you’re not careful, you’ll be joining your cousin in prison.”

Sorcha stared at him.

She clenched her fists until Ward laughed. “Fine. I’ll give you the story first.”

“And you won’t talk to other reporters until I sell my story.”

“I can’t promise that.”

“You can.”

“Shit. She’s a shark.”

Sorcha gave him a smug look. “I want it in writing.”

“You can trust me,” Ward replied.

“In writing, and I’ll leave tonight.”

“We’ll leave tonight,” Diego said. “I’m not letting you out of sight. You still owe me Dom/sub time. And you’re in my custody, remember?”

Sorcha glanced at Ward with a stricken look on her face. “Diego!”

“You know, I wanted to talk to you about that,” Ward said with a snort. “Will someone please tell me where you keep meeting these fantastic subbies? ’Cause I can’t find a one.”

“I’ve known Sorcha for a while, way before your time at Tygers. She was only there to cause problems the last time.”

“That is not true! You can’t keep saying things like that.”

“Prove it. You were trying to bribe a desk clerk.”

“So you arrested her?”

“Not hardly,” Sorcha said. “He…” She closed her mouth quickly and looked at Diego.

“He -- kept me from talking to Eric and Angel, about the case.”

“Good. We’re having a hard enough time trying to convict Jaymes, we don’t need any more problems to deal with. You’ve got your exclusive, Sorcha. I’ll give you the deal, in 80 Melinda Barron

writing. I’ll have it drawn up tomorrow. And, about your visit, I’d have to arrange a special time if you left tomorrow, because regular hours aren’t until Wednesday. I don’t want anyone to connect you with me, so just go on Wednesday. And it would probably be better if you went alone.”

“No way.” Diego shook his head. “She might go to the prison by herself, but she’s not going on a trip by herself. I can’t trust her not to get into trouble.”

There was steel in his voice, but Sorcha saw humor in his eyes.

“Trouble? I’ve gotten along just fine by myself, thank you very much.”

“Have you? Let’s see, you’re unemployed and I just had to bail you out of jail. Do you consider those things fine?”

“You’re a pig.” Sorcha’s throat tightened around the words.

“I can be, yes. But Sorcha, you need to face facts. Those things aren’t good, and I’m not going to let you wander into more trouble by going on this trip alone and saying something that could inadvertently get you into trouble.”

“Inadvertently? Listen, buster, it was my inadvertent actions that brought the two of us together. Was that a mistake?”

“The action, yes. The consequence, no.”

“Well, that makes no sense whatsoever.”

They began to talk in rapid Spanish, their fingers pointing at each other as their voices grew in anger. They stopped when Ward cleared his throat.

“Listen, as much as I’d love to listen to your lover’s quarrel, I’m thinking you need to take it home.”

Sorcha shot Diego an angry look.

“I think that’s a great idea.”

“Me, too.”

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Sorcha stood and agreed to phone Ward from the road, and after visiting Tony at the prison. When they were seated in the truck, she ran her hands down her skirt.

“Take me home.”

“No. Did you not get the message I’m not letting you out of my sight?”

“Why? So you can make fun of my decisions? So you can basically tell people I’m an idiot who doesn’t know how to live her life?”

He turned the truck away from I-25 and she threw up her hands.

“Did you hear me? Take me home. Our weekend is over.”

“It was interrupted. It’s not over. You’re still mine until Monday night at six.”

“I don’t believe you. You expect me to submit to you? Especially after you sat there and basically told your friend I’m a moron.”

“Did I say that? No. Oye, yo no estoy acostumbrado a que otros me importen, pero tú me importas a mí. ¡Nadie nos va a separar, ni siquiera tú!”

His fists tightened on the wheel and Sorcha stared at him, her stomach dropping to her knees.

“What did you say?”

“You heard me.”

“Say it again. Tell me you care about me again.”

He shook his head. He looked angry and she frowned.

“Are you lying to me?”

“No. Sorcha, don’t you get it? If I didn’t care, your ass would be sitting in jail right now.”

“Diego, you have sex with lots of women. Just because we’ve…”

“Do you know how many collared subs I’ve had in my life? One. I might play, and top lots of women, but I don’t commit. The women know that going into a session with me.”

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She stared at him, her anger dropping with each second. When he’d told her earlier that he’d been attracted to her, she’d thought he’d been joking, trying to make her feel better. She knew better now. But how could she be sure that she wasn’t just another subbie for him to play with?

“How do I know you won’t just dump me?”

“You don’t. But I don’t know that about you, either. I’m putting my heart at risk, too.

Besides, you trusted me enough to let me hog-tie you.”

She twisted her hands together in her lap. “What happens next?”

“Well, I have a lovely table that I’d like to introduce you to, and some new purple rope that will look very beautiful against your skin. But it’s very early in the morning, and I’m very tired. So I’m thinking sleep now, play tomorrow, or should I say later today? Deal?”

“Deal.”

She turned to him, her voice low.

"Diego. Tú también me importas, pero todavía tengo miedo. Por favor no me hieras.”

“Don’t be scared, mi juguete. I’m not planning on hurting you.” He gave her a mischievous grin. “Unless you want me to.”

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Chapter Nine

“Well, my arrest is not in the newspaper, so I guess that’s a good thing.” Sorcha slapped the paper on the table and took a sip of her coffee.

“If word of it does get out, there won’t be an explanation, or at least one that’s true.

Ward will see to that.”

“I’ll never find a job now.” Sorcha pulled on the shirt he’d given her to wear. It was one of his, and wouldn’t close around her chest.

“Only if you’re convicted of a crime. Applications don’t ask if you’ve been arrested, just if you’ve been convicted.”

“True. But the chances of me being convicted are good. I mean face it, I’m guilty.”

“Yes, you are. But if the information we talked about pans out, I’m sure there will be no charges filed. Case closed.”

She smiled. “That’s a wonderful idea.”

“Speaking of bad girls…” He nodded at her, his eyes narrowed.

“Were we?”

“Yes, we were. Someone owes me some time in the chair.”

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“I know.” She pouted at him and he laughed.

“Please. You loved that chair. You came hard. Three times, I might add.”

“Yeah, but this time it’s going to be, you know.” And although I love it that way, I want it to be your cock, and not a plastic cock.

“Up your ass? Yes, it is. And that’s the problem I’ve been thinking about all night.”

Sorcha’s eyes brightened. “You’ve changed your mind?”

“Well, you see I’m jealous the dildo’s getting there before me. I want to claim your sweet little rosebud.”

Sorcha blushed with pleasure. “What does that mean?”

“That means we’re going to the dungeon and I’m going to bind you in a particularly pleasing way that might take a good, long while, because good bondage is not rushed. When you’re properly tied, I’m going to claim my prize.”

“My ass?”

“Your ass.”

“Does that mean my punishment is forgiven?”

“No, just delayed. You’ll still get your twenty-five minutes in the chair, and the dildo will still be in your behind. It’s just postponed. I find postponing punishments and drawing things out makes them all the sweeter, for me and my subbie.”

Before she could reply, he stood. “Go to the dungeon, get naked, and wait for me there.

You know the position to get into.”

Sorcha hurried down the hall. She dropped the shirt on his bed and went to the dungeon, going to the center and clasping her hands around her forearms behind her back.

She spread her legs and bowed her head. Excitement churned inside her. Her pussy pulsed with anticipation and she chuckled.

“You’re taking a backseat today,” she whispered. “Sorry for you, but good for me.”

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If Diego knew how much I loved being taken that way, he wouldn’t consider it punishment.

“Did I give you permission to speak?”

“I was just telling my pussy it wasn’t going to get fucked.”

“Answer my question.”

“No, my liege.”

“Bad, Sorcha. I might have to bring out a flogger.”

He came up behind her and caressed her hips. “What’s your job?”

“To tell you if I feel any pain, discomfort, or panic.”

He moved back and smacked her behind soundly. The sting radiated straight to her clit.

“My liege. I’m sorry. I meant to say, my liege.”

“Better. Now, lift your arms up just a bit. And remain absolutely silent, unless you’re doing your job.”

She nodded her head and closed her eyes to savor the feeling of him wrapping the soft rope around her forearms. He wove it around her, looping it through other pieces in what she was sure became decorative knots.

When he was done with her arms, he patted her behind.

“Feeling all right?”

She nodded and he stepped in front of her, looping a piece of rope through the D-ring of her collar.

“Follow me.”

He led her across the room to a piece of furniture that looked almost like a massage table. It had open spots for her face, breasts, and genital area. The lower portion split into legs that could be moved apart.

“Lie down here.”

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“I’m starting to panic.”

“Do you trust me, Sorcha?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“What’s wrong? Tell your Master why you’re panicked.”

“The table looks small. What if I fall, Master?”

“I won’t let you fall. Total and complete trust, Sorcha. I’ll accept no less. If you can’t give me that, we need to stop. Right now. Do you want to use your safe word?”

“No, my liege.”

“Let me help you climb onto the table.”

He settled her onto the table, widening the gap just a bit so her large breasts would hang free. He massaged her shoulders and rubbed her bottom.

“Feeling better?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Good. Just relax. This is supposed to be fun for both of us. I want you to enjoy it as much as I do.”

She laughed. “I know you do, and I am. It’s just all so new.”

“I know. But soon it’ll be old hat to you and I’ll have to come up with new positions to tie you in.”

His words made her tingle and he leaned over and kissed her neck.

“Silence, unless you’re doing your job.”

He bound her to the table, starting at her waist and wrapping lengths of cord around her, stopping at times to make sure the tension was good. It felt just a little bit tighter than the hog-tie had, but it was not uncomfortable.

Sorcha began to relax as his hands moved over her body. When he whipped the cord around her thighs, she wanted to sigh in pleasure. He’d moved it somehow so the rope was Sweet Silence

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running parallel with her body. The movement of the rope felt almost like a braid as he bound her lower limbs to the outstretched table legs.

She wondered how long he’d been working. It had to have been at least an hour. When he’d finally bound both of her legs to the table he stepped back to admire his handiwork.

“Perfect. Well, almost perfect. But I’m not going to add the last touches until I’m ready to take your ass. How are you feeling?”

He ran his hands over the bonds, testing the tension.

Sorcha sighed. “Fine, my liege.”

“Thirsty?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Me, too.” She heard him move across the room. Seconds later he knelt down next to her face and offered her a water bottle, complete with a straw.

“Drink.”

She took several large sips. When she was done, he took some and handed it back to her.

“More?”

“No thank you, my liege.”

“You look so beautiful, Sorcha. That purple rope complements your skin perfectly.

Would you like to see?”

“How?”

He shook his head. “Oh ye of little faith. Your Master can do anything.”

“He can make me see things behind me when I’m bound to a table?”

“Bet me.” He sat down and leaned against the wall.

“What’s the wager?”

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“If you win, you’ll get to choose the prize of your choice. If I win, I get the same thing.

Any time, any place, without question.”

Her gaze darted around the room. She saw no mirrors. He would have to set them up at the proper angles for it to work.

“Come on, what are you waiting for? Scared?”

“There has to be a time limit on this bet. Two minutes.”

“I can do it in one.”

“How?”

“The bet.”

“What are the limits on what you can ask for?”

His chuckle was deep. “There are no limits. You should know that by now.”

“In under one minute?”

“Under one minute.”

“I’d shake your hand, but I’m a bit tied up at the moment.”

Their shared laughter filled the room and he leaned over and kissed her, biting her lower lip gently. “That will seal it.”

He stood and moved a short table in front of her. “A stopwatch so you know I’m not cheating.”

“That’s very generous of you, my liege.”

“Do I detect sarcasm?”

“No. My liege.”

She lifted her gaze to his, fighting back laughter.

“Hmm, I think it was. You’ll pay for that.”

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He started the watch and moved away; seconds later he was back, wheeling a stand with a large TV on it. He disappeared behind her again and within seconds the TV turned on and her back came into view.

“How? I see no cameras.” She moved her head as best she could, trying to detect cameras in the ceilings.

He stepped in front of her, a video camera held to his face.

“How much time do I have left?”

She glanced at the watch. “Twenty seconds, Master. You duped me. The bet wasn’t fair.”

“I can taste my winnings already. Mandatory silence starts now, Sorcha.”

His hands caressed the ropes, which pushed the bindings into her skin, causing a tickling sensation. Sorcha closed her eyes, and opened them again to see his fingers trail down each of her legs, tickling the skin that wasn’t covered with rope. She bit her lip to keep from laughing.

When he pulled back to give her a full shot she wanted to groan. Her pussy and ass were on display, her legs splayed wide and bent at the knees. When he tickled her pussy she shut her eyes tight.

Lord, that felt good. So good.

“You’re very wet.” He moved his fingers down to capture her clit. “It’s throbbing for me.”

She nodded. Damn, she wanted to come. Not being able to talk was bondage on top of bondage.

He inserted a finger inside her wetness, then another, sawing them in and out of her.

Her bindings made it impossible for her to move her hips and she shook her head in frustration.

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To try and take her mind off his fingers, she focused on the screen, fascinated by seeing something she’d never seen before. When he inserted a third finger, angling his fingers to hit her sweet spot, Sorcha moaned.

His fingers left her quickly and he slapped her behind.

“Did you have permission for that?” He slapped her behind again, focusing the camera on the red handprint that showed up.

“No, Sir.”

“You’ll learn when I say silence, I mean silence. Do you understand?”

“Yes, my liege.” Don’t tease me like that. I can’t stand it.

“I never gag a subbie who’s bound. They have to have the ability to speak if there’s a problem, but you have to learn. We’ll think of a proper punishment tomorrow. Now, what are you going to do?”

“Stay silent, my liege.”

“Very good.” He caressed her bottom, and she wanted to cry out when his hands moved away.

“I need both of my hands, so I’m putting the camera on a tripod. Don’t worry, I have a little remote I can use to zoom in, so you can watch me fuck your ass.”

Oh, lord. How was she supposed to not talk or moan, while watching that? Did he think she had super powers? She swallowed hard and closed her eyes as he massaged lube into her rosette.

“The angle’s a little off,” he said.

The table under her moved, lifting a little at the top and dropping at the bottom.

Sorcha’s heart beat faster, but she knew Diego had her bound securely to the table and she wouldn’t slide off.

“This table can even move you into an upright position, so I could torture your sweet nipples and cunt while you’re bound.”

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He stepped in front of her and got down on his haunches. “Which reminds me. I almost forgot.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the nipple clamps with the bells.

“Three of them. Two for your nipples, and one for your clit. You’ll play sweet music while I ride you.”

He attached them with enough pressure to make Sorcha wince. She knew they weren’t tight enough to stop circulation, but would cause discomfort, which she knew from experience turned to sweet pain.

Diego walked behind her and caressed her bottom. “I think you’re properly prepared now. Well, almost.”

He trickled more lube on her anus, then rubbed it around, inserting his thumb when she’d started to relax. Her body moved in rhythm to his thrusts and the bells tinkled.

“Tight enough to keep you on the table, but loose enough to let those pretty breasts move and make noise for me.”

He removed his thumb and pushed a finger against her opening, pushing inside gently.

“Good?”

She nodded vigorously.

Please! Just fuck me! Now. Put it in!

He inserted his finger all the way in, moving it around.

Please, your cock, Master, your cock. Please! Lord, this is torture. Fuck my ass.

She watched the screen as his fingers withdrew. She’d never seen herself there, and it was more than a little strange. The sound of a ripping condom package made her tense.

Finally. Oh, fuck me, Diego, please. Please take my ass.

His cock came into view on the screen, and he added lube to it, smearing it over the head. She could see the ring pressed against the latex. What was his decoration going to feel like going in and out of her ass? Would it hurt? Would it increase the pleasure? She’d always 92 Melinda Barron

liked being taken this way, would she like it more with Diego’s Prince Albert added to the mix?

He rubbed the tip of his cock against her rosette and she watched the screen intently.

Seconds later, he pushed inside. Her rosette puckered, then parted for him. She could feel him thrusting inside, the ring sliding against her most sensitive flesh. Seconds later, the head of his cock was in. He spread her cheeks and she saw her anus, wrapped around his cock.

“Like what you see? Tell me.”

“Yes, my liege. So good.”

“Watch me fuck you, Sorcha. I’ll let you speak later, but not now.” He pushed more of himself inside and her anus swallowed him up like a hungry bird swallows a big, fat worm.

When he was all in, he kept himself flush against her. She could feel his cock throbbing inside her.

When he started to thrust, she thought she would go crazy. The ring dragged up and down her insides, causing sensations she’d never felt before. The table, and in turn Sorcha, rocked under the force of his movements and the bells began to ring, softly at first and louder and louder as he picked up speed.

Sorcha wanted to cry out, to scream and ask him to let her talk, let her come. But more than wanting to come, she wanted to please him, and breaking the silence would go against his wishes. She internalized her screams, could almost hear them in her head as she watched his cock plunge in and out of her anus.

He stopped after a few minutes, his hands moving down to check her bindings while his cock was still buried deep inside her.

“Pain? Pressure? Panic?”

She shook her head. If her bindings had let her, she would have thrust back at him. He remained still for several long minutes.

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The bells had stopped ringing and the room was quiet except for their breathing. Their shared stillness made her feel closer to him than she’d ever felt to Thomas. His fingers tickled the skin that peeked through the bindings and Sorcha knew she was close to orgasm.

She wanted to scream for it, beg for it. Instead, she kept her mouth firmly shut.

After a few minutes, he pulled back and thrust back in, slowly and smoothly, waiting almost a full minute before repeating the motion. He did that three more times, and began to thrust inside her harder and harder.

“Make noise, Sorcha. Show your Master how much you’re enjoying his attention.”

“Master, oh Master. Fuck me. Fuck me hard. Yes. May I come, please? Please, Master.”

“Not yet. Louder.” He grasped her hips and pumped harder. The ring rubbed her as his cock slid back and forth. One hand left her hip and sought her clit. He pulled on the clamp, the bell muffled by his fingers.

“Come. Now.”

Sorcha’s orgasm overtook her. She closed her eyes and could swear someone shot off fireworks in the room.

“Diego! Oh my lord! Diego!”

She struggled against her bonds, felt them slide across her sweaty skin. She wanted to touch him, wanted to move her arms as the passion rolled through her. Diego continued to drive into her, harder and harder and she felt a second climax build and spill over.

Her body tightened, her anal muscles clenching him. His muttered, “fuck, holy fuck,”

made her groan with happiness. He was feeling the same thing she was. When his thrusting stopped, he laid his head on her back.

She felt her sweaty skin slip beneath her bonds and Diego hissed.

“Lie still. There’s a chance of rope burns now. Give me a minute and I’ll get you out.”

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She heard him leave the room quickly, heard the running water in the bathroom.

Seconds later he was back, moving the chair so she was again flat on her stomach. He rubbed her body.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine. Tingly from the orgasms.”

“Plural? Did you have permission for the second one?”

“No.” Her words were soft and she gulped. “My liege.”

“If you can come that easily a second time, I’m going to have to think of a way to control it. I just thought it was a long first one.” He started to undo his knots. “This is an interesting development. You can come that hard, and make it seem like one. You’re going to have to learn to be honest with me. How many times did you come?”

She felt almost naked with the ropes leaving her leg. “Twice, my liege. Am I in trouble?”

“Not this time. But next time, yes. You’ll ask for permission for each one.” He finished the first leg and started on the second. When he’d untied both of them, and undone the bindings on her abdomen, she sighed.

“Did that hurt? And you didn’t tell me?” The concern in his voice made her smile.

“It didn’t hurt, Master. It was more a sigh of loss.”

He helped her to sit. Her legs felt like jelly as she tried to stand.

“Just sit there for a little bit and let me untie your arms.”

Her shoulders creaked and ached when she was finally able to move her arms.

“Just take it easy.” He ran his fingers up and down her flesh.

“What are you looking for?”

“Discolorations of the skin. I don’t see any. Instead, all I see are the beautiful marks the ropes left. They’ll take a while to fade.”

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He lifted her chin so their faces were even. He kissed the tip of her nose, then traced her lips with his own.

“How about a nap?”

“What time is it?”

“After six.”

Her eyes widened. “Are you kidding?”

“Nope. Good bondage takes a while. That’s why safety is so important. Let’s sleep for a while; then we’ll go and get something to eat. You can take your chair punishment in the morning.”

“Gee, thanks. I mean, my liege.”

“You’re out of practice line isn’t working anymore. You’ve been my subbie for three days now. One more slipup and it’s the flogger for you.”

She lifted her eyebrows. “Promise? Um, my liege?”

He crossed his arms over his chest and stared at her. “Or maybe not. I think you might enjoy it too much.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“Liar.” He picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, setting her down gently before sliding in beside her and gathering her in his arms.

“Go to sleep, Sorcha.”

“Geez, I’d hate to tell everyone the great Diego Fuentes needs to rest after a bondage session.”

“You are pressing your luck. Are you trying to top me? You’re not a switch in disguise, are you?”

“Not at all, Master.”

“Go to sleep. Now.”

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She closed her eyes, nestled against him. “Do you always let subbies sleep next to you?”

“You’re the first subbie I’ve actually slept with in a while. But I think I kinda like it.”

He stroked her arms and she sighed, her eyelids feeling heavier.

“Me too, Master.”

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Chapter Ten

On Monday, they’d gone to Ward’s office and Sorcha signed the agreement he’d drawn up, guaranteeing her first crack at the story when they arrested Jaymes. She already had the lead written in her mind, and wanted to call the main editor at the Trib, tell him his reporter wouldn’t be able to get the story. But she could. And the information could be verified. She was sure they would offer her a job. Within weeks, she would be back on the A-list, she would have a job with a steady income. She could hardly wait.

It took them five hours to get to Las Cruces on Tuesday. After Sunday’s intense session, Diego hadn’t bound her again, saying her skin needed time to breathe. It still bore the slight indentations from the chair binding.

Sorcha found herself looking at them often, running her hands along them and shuddering with the wonderful memory of Diego buried deep inside her anus, her bound body pulsing with pleasure as he thrust in and out of her of her rosette.

He still hadn’t claimed his prize, and she wondered what he had in mind. When they were inside the hotel room, she rubbed her breasts.

“Master?”

“Yes, Sorcha?”

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“Can we? You know?”

“Fuck? No, mi juguete, not right now. Besides, who’s the Master here? Sometimes, I think you’re lying to me about being a switch. Sit down. I want to talk about tomorrow, about what you’re going to say to your cousin. You have to be careful because conversations are monitored. If someone’s on the take, we’ll be sold out in seconds flat.”

She sat down on the bed and he sat next to her, taking her hands in his.

“Don’t mention Jaymes, or the murder.”

“How am I supposed to get the tape?”

“Is your cousin smart?”

“He’s in prison, isn’t he? How smart can he be?”

“Prisons are full of smart people who make stupid choices. How did you find out about the tape?”

“He told his mother, and she told me.”

“Here’s what you do. Mention a gift from his mother. See if he picks up on it. If he doesn’t, you may need to find a more direct route. After he knows what you’re after, ask him about an old girlfriend. See if he knows to mention the woman’s name.”

“I hope he realizes what I’m after.”

“Me, too. I really want to go with you but Ward’s right, it’s a bad idea. You make sure you don’t stop anywhere on the way there or back. Understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I mean it, Sorcha. This is very dangerous.”

“How could Jaymes know we’re here?”

“He’s everywhere, and he is smart. That’s why men like your cousin are in jail while he’s sitting at home watching his big screen TV, even after threatening the life of a cop.”

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“Which cop?” She looked him in the eyes, holding her gaze steady. The stare went on for a few minutes before he said, “Me.”

Her heart fell. If Jaymes had killed Diego, she wouldn’t be here right now. She wouldn’t have had the fantastic experiences she’d had in the last few days. She wouldn’t be looking forward to more fantastic times with a man who had filled her heart, as well as her body.

“He has to be stopped.” The words were almost whispered.

“He will be. This’ll work.” He kissed her forehead. “Hungry?”

“A little.”

“Me, too. I know a nice little bar in a town not far from here called Dos Burros.”

“Two donkeys? That really recommends it.”

“I think they really meant two jackasses. It’s an inside joke about the owners, or so I hear. They make a mean cheeseburger there, and I always try to stop by when I’m around.”

“More time in the truck? Can’t we just order pizza?”

“Only about forty-five minutes. It’s down near the Mexico border.”

“You’re the boss.”

“Really? Sometimes, I think you forget that.” He stroked her thigh. “Put a dress on for me. And no panties.”

* * * * *

The bar was dark, and Sorcha thought that, although Diego recommended it, she wasn’t sure she wanted to eat anything prepared there. It didn’t seem very clean, and was mostly devoid of customers. A few men played pool near the back, with several women sitting near them. There were two bartenders, both Hispanic males with long black hair, one with a full beard.

“Do you really want to eat here?”

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“Why, you don’t like it? It’s a great dive.”

He nodded to the bearded bartender who came up and jerked his head in acknowledgement. His appearance did nothing to alleviate Sorcha’s misgivings about Dos Burros.

“What can I get ya?”

“Two beers,” Diego said.

“Draft or bottle?”

“Longnecks.” Diego turned to Sorcha, leaning in to kiss her neck. “Relax. I’ll protect you if anything happens. You’re safer here than you are taking on Dustin Jaymes, I can guarantee that.”

“Whatever you say, my liege.” The bartender appeared and put bottles in front of them.

“Six bucks.”

Diego handed him his money, then clinked his bottle with Sorcha’s. “To a successful hunt tomorrow.”

She watched the bartender walk off, stopping not far from them.

“Sounds good,” she said, taking a swig and setting her bottle down. She’d barely swallowed the beer when Diego’s words made her cough.

“Seeing that longneck in your mouth reminds me you haven’t given me a blowjob yet.

And Thomas used to tout your deep throating abilities.”

She put her hand to her check and she swallowed deeply.

“Was he lying?”

“No.” She darted her gaze to Diego.

“I think it’s time I claimed my prize.” He thumped his finger against her nose and turned to the man who’d waited on them. “You got someplace private my lady can give me a blowjob?”

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“Diego!” Sorcha whispered, her body turning to jelly. Surely he was kidding? He expected her to perform here, in a dive near the border? She was tempted to turn around and walk out, but how would she get back to Las Cruces?

“Holy fuck. You’re not kidding?” When Diego shook his head, the younger man laughed. “Fuck, yeah, the office is open. Can I watch?” He straightened his shoulders, an excited look on his face.

Sorcha balked again, shaking her head furiously.

“Of course you can,” Diego said, turning to Sorcha. The look he gave her made her toes curl. “Are you going to behave? Remember I won the bet, fair and square.”

She nodded, part of her scared to death and part of her fascinated. She trusted Diego, but this was over the top.

Diego turned back to the younger man. “I don’t share with people I don’t know, so don’t ask.”

Sorcha sighed in relief.

A dejected look came over his face; then he shrugged. “Fine, as long as I can watch. It’s back this way.”

He jerked his head toward the edge of the counter and turned to his coworker. “Hey, Rico. Watch the bar for me.”

“Sure, Joey.”

Diego took Sorcha’s hand as they followed the man down a hall.

“Please, Master. Something else?” She hissed the words at him, but he didn’t stop or acknowledge them. When they got to the office doorway he stopped.

“You can do this. I won’t let him touch you. You don’t even have to get naked. And if you’re nice and sweet, I’ll fuck you tonight, however you want. Soft and sweet. Hard and long. Hell, we might even do it twice.”

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“Once in my, um…?” She lifted her gaze to his, her nerves settling somewhat when he smiled at her.

“Once where? Tell me.”

She looked away and shook her head. “You like it that way. You’re going to have to learn to ask for it. Who do you belong to?”

“You, Master Diego. You’re my liege. But I don’t know if I can do this. Please, can’t you pick something else?”

“No, I can’t. Do you want to obey your Master?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Relax.” He ran his fingers over her cheek and she nodded. “Now come and suck me deep into your throat.”

Her hands shook as they entered the office and the man shut the door.

“Joey, right?”

“That right’s, Joey Cruz.” He held out his hand and Diego shook it.

“Diego Fuentes, and this is my lady, Sorcha.”

“Sorcha, huh? Well, she’s definitely magic. I can’t wait to see her suck you.”

“Yes, she is magic.” Diego kissed her forehead, tracing his tongue down her nose before kissing her mouth. “What’s the best for you, baby? On your knees? Or you want to lie on the desk? It looks empty. You want me to stand, or sit?”

Diego stroked her hair and Sorcha shivered. “Diego. Please.”

He shook his head and mouthed, “Behave.” She responded with a shallow nod of her head. I can do this. I can do this. Just pretend he’s not there.

“You stand, and I’ll kneel in front of you.” She knew her voice sounded wobbly and she hated it.

“On your knees, baby.”

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Sorcha started to kneel, and stopped when Joey called out. He walked to the couch and picked up a big, fluffy pillow, putting it down in front of Sorcha.

“Here.”

“Thanks.” She frowned at him. It seemed a little out of character for the scruffy looking man to offer her comfort for her knees. She guessed his age at about twenty-eight, maybe younger. She looked at Diego, who was grinning at Joey and shaking his head.

“Down, baby,” Diego said, turning back to her. Joey moved back a few steps and Sorcha knelt down. When Diego started to unbutton his jeans, she put her hands on his thick thighs.

When he released his cock, it sprang to life in front of her face, already hard and ready for action. She stroked him gently as she tried to calm her nerves. He’d fucked her in the park, hadn’t he? Put her on her hands and knees and mounted her, while that other couple had watched. She’d been excited about that, even though she hadn’t known they were watching.

She could do this. Diego was right, she wasn’t the one who was naked, he was. She kissed the head, then slid it into her mouth, careful not to catch the ring on her teeth. She wrapped her hand around his shaft, sucking him in and out to create as much saliva as possible. She worked her hand up and down his hard shaft, his length pounding in her hand.

Thomas had taught her how to deep throat him, and she’d only done it to him. But he hadn’t been nearly as large as Diego.

She mentally told herself what to do. Get her mouth nice and wet, tip her head back slightly, and push her tongue down into her mouth. Once he was over the spot where she might gag, she could suck him deep inside, taking her down all the way to his balls.

His hands toyed with her hair as she sucked him. She could hear his soft moans of encouragement and Joey’s murmured, “Fuck, yeah, suck him. Oh, man, how cool is that?”

Both men’s words spurred her on. They excited her, and she worried for a moment that she was a little too turned on by the idea. She knew her pussy was wet; her thighs were 104

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sticky with her juices. But it wasn’t from Joey watching, it was from sucking Diego, sucking her Master.

When she knew he was wet enough, she moved her hand down to his balls and sucked his shaft into her mouth. She stopped when he was almost all in. She relaxed her throat muscles and sucked him in a little more before coughing and pushing him out. She opened wider and sucked him in, the ring sliding against the back of her throat as her mouth hit his balls.

She sucked with her throat as he grasped her hair. Her fingers tickled his balls as she slid off then took him back inside her, deeper than the first time. She flicked her tongue over his balls and he shuddered in response.

“Ah, Dios mio. Eso se siente tan bueno, bebé. Tan bueno.” He shivered as she continued to suck him, her throat contracting around him as her tongue and fingers tickled his balls.

“So fucking good. Oh, baby.”

She took him in and out several times, each entrance easier than the last. When he was out she would suck the head of his cock, toying with the ring she loved so much. He would thrust his hips at her and she thrilled at his movements. Joey’s moans let her know he liked it, too.

When she knew Diego was ready to come, she sucked him deep into her throat, stroking the underside of his cock with her tongue. She flickered her fingers over his balls, then trailed them back and caressed the spot between his balls and anus. She felt his cock expand in her throat and wanted to push him out. She couldn’t breathe as he shot his cum down her throat, his guttural moans filling the air, his fingers buried deep in her hair.

“Fuck, yeah, oh yeah, mi juguete. Like that. Just like that.” He pulsed inside her as the last of his cum shot down her throat.

She gagged and he pulled back quickly, kneeling down. “Are you all right?”

“Fine. I’m fine. Just give me a minute.”

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He stood and cradled her head against his thigh, his cock rubbing against her neck.

“Sweet Sorcha. So very sweet.”

“I’m so jealous. You sure you don’t share?”

“Positive. Have I ever shared with you?”

Sorcha’s heart almost stopped. What had Diego just said?

Joey’s laughter was sharp. “Never. But there’s always a first. So tell me, how’s Mom?”

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Chapter Eleven

“¡Usted bastardo! ¡Ambos usted son bastardos!” Sorcha stood and pushed herself away from Diego; then she pounded her fists against his chest. She lifted her knee as if to slam it into his exposed balls. He grabbed her hands and thrust his hips back from her, his laughter making her even madder. “He’s your brother?”

“Easy, mi juguete. My cock’s still out and you might injure it. And I assure you, our parents were married when we were born.” He continued to laugh as Sorcha flailed against him. Soon, though, his laughter stopped and his tone turned dark.

“Sorcha! Stop that. Don’t forget I’m your Master. Sorcha. ¡Pare eso y compórtese, ahora!

Do you hear me?”

“Behave myself? Are you kidding?”

Diego took her by the shoulders. “I’m still your Master. Calm down. Right now.”

“You tricked me. You made me think I was sucking you off in front of a stranger.”

“He was a stranger. To you. It doesn’t matter that I’ve known him all his life.”

Anger radiated through her body, but she stopped hitting him. Diego pushed away from her and buttoned his cock back into his pants. His chest heaved and his eyes glowed Sweet Silence

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with anger. She knew she was in deep trouble for the outburst, but she didn’t care. What he had done was mean.

She turned to “Joey.”

“And you are?”

“Dario Fuentes, at your service.” He bowed slightly. “Forgive the beard and hair. I hate them, too. And here, at Dos Burros, I’m Joey, a drug dealer. I’m undercover and I trust you won’t give me away?”

She shook her head and sat down on the couch. She could feel the waves of fury still rolling off Diego at her reaction.

“How many other brothers do you have?”

“Four,” Diego said. “I’m the oldest, and we’ve very close in age. There’s Alejandro, Alberto, Santos, and Silvio.”

“I see your mother likes things in twos. Two names that begin with D, two with A and two with S. And you, Dario? Are you a Dom, too?”

“I had a good teacher,” Dario said. “My older brother is the best.”

“Obviously not,” Diego said with a snort. “Or else my sub wouldn’t be beating on me.”

The look Diego gave her made Sorcha flinch. She was in major trouble.

“Don’t be too hard on her,” Dario said softly. “It did catch her off guard.”

“It was a bet that she lost fair and square.” Diego held up his hands to silence them both. “I have a message for you from Ward. They’re calling you home soon, in a month or so.”

“Fantastic. Can I go tonight? Are you taking me out now? Pretending to arrest me?” He wagged his tongue and Diego laughed.

“No. Soon, though.”

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“I can’t wait. I’ve been here two years and I’m ready to go home, shave this beard, cut my hair, and be normal again.”

“They’re going to have to stage your death.”

“Great. I always wanted to watch my own funeral.”

“You’re sick.” Diego laughed.

“True, but once again, I had a good teacher. Is this why you’re here, to deliver a message?”

“No, we’re here on another matter that we can’t talk about.”

“Figures. Nobody comes to visit me anymore.”

The brothers laughed and began to talk softly. On the couch, Sorcha fumed. He should have told her the man was his brother. Knowing Diego knew him would have made the blowjob easier for her. True, she’d gotten into it as soon as she started, but that was beside the point. He couldn’t expect her to take a surprise like that and not be mad. Sure, her hitting his chest had been way overboard, but she couldn’t take it back now. She had to live with the consequences. That meant that she would be without an orgasm tonight, she was sure.

“Are you through pouting?”

“I’m not pouting.”

“Pequeña mentirosita.” At least he was laughing again.

She turned her face from his. How could he call her a liar? He was the one who had lied.

“Sorcha, half of BDSM is mind games. Do you trust me so little that you’d think I’d make you perform in front of a total stranger?”

She knew he was right, but she didn’t want to admit it.

“It’s not the performing, it’s the fact you lied about him being your brother.”

“There was a reason for that.”

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“You could have told me when we got to the office.”

“Yeah, but keeping you on the edge was fun. Admit it. It excited you. I bet your juices are flowing down your leg right now.”

Was the reason she’d been so angry because she’d been excited about a total stranger watching her deep throat Diego’s cock?

“I am not excited.”

“Prove it. Lift up your skirt.” When she didn’t move, he moved her back to where she was leaning against the desk. He crossed his arms in front of his chest. “Now, mi juguete.”

She inched it up slowly, hoping her pussy would dry before she reached the top. Of course it didn’t.

“Spread your legs.” She obeyed and Diego’s fingers pushed past her slit with ease. “Wet as a river.”

She leaned her head against his forearm. “I’m sorry, Master.” Her words were whispered.

“That’s all right. Knowing you’re a closet exhibitionist who’s ashamed to admit it gives me great ammunition for punishments.”

“We’ve been in here a little too long for a drug deal,” Dario said. “I need to leave and make sure Rico gets his cut or he’ll be suspicious.”

Diego pulled out his wallet and handed Dario some bills.

“Sixty do it?”

“Yup. Thanks, or should I say, thank Ward?”

“Yeah, he gave me money for this very reason.” Diego hugged Dario close to him. “Sea hermano cuidadoso, pequeño.”

“I will be. Say hi to Mom for me. Tell her I’ll see her soon.”

“Will do.”

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“Sorcha, a pleasure. In more ways than one. Welcome to the family.”

“Family? I’m not…”

“Oh, please. Don’t bother denying it. You and my brother are a perfect fit. He needs a sub who challenges him like you do, don’t you, Diego?”

“Yes, I do,” Diego said, shooting a wicked grin at Sorcha. “She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m never letting her go.”

“Wait to get married until I’m back in Albuquerque, OK? I’d like to be the best man.”

* * * * *

“You’re being awfully quiet, Sorcha.” Diego pushed open the hotel room door and ushered her inside. “Lamenting your bad behavior?”

“You’re partly to blame.”

“If you say so. But you’re racking up punishments. Let’s see, you still owe me twenty-five minutes in the chair. Plus, you have punishments coming for the sarcasm Sunday night, the moaning without permission, the second orgasm, and now, trying to beat the crap out of me.”

“If I’m so bad, why don’t you just dump me?”

“Don’t think so. You’re way too much fun for that.”

She sat down on the bed and was surprised when he knelt in front of her.

“Sorcha, Dario saw it right away. You and I were made for each other. We’re perfect together. I’ve never found a sub who would talk back to me. They’re all too nervous around me.”

“That’s because you have a nasty reputation. And you live up to it. They’re afraid of you.”

“But you’re not, are you?”

“No. Well, maybe at first.”

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“No, you weren’t. If you were you never would have chained me to a wall. You knew I wouldn’t let it pass, but you did it anyway.”

“I wasn’t thinking when I did that. Besides, we’ve talked about being together, yes, but not about married. Dario mentioned a wedding and you didn’t dissuade him.”

“No, I didn’t. It doesn’t have to be right away. But yes, I want to marry you, keep you by my side always.”

They stared into each other’s eyes. After a few minutes, Sorcha nodded.

“Get undressed.” He walked to the bathroom and she quickly shed her clothing. When he returned he was naked. He set towels and the lube on the nightstand, then turned and took Sorcha into his arms, melding their mouths together and invading her mouth with his tongue.

They kissed frantically, their lips wandering over each other’s until they both gasped.

Diego pushed her back onto the bed, falling down and capturing a nipple in his mouth. He sucked greedily as Sorcha wiggled under him, massaging his shoulders.

He released her nipple and sought out the other one, sucking it just as greedily as he had the first. His teeth played around the edges, sending tendrils of painful pleasure through her body.

“Yes, oh yes. Master.”

“Not Master. Not this time. Who am I?”

“Diego.”

He groaned and reached for a condom, pushing himself into her wetness seconds after he was sheathed. She wrapped her legs around him, marveling at the way he felt inside her.

His strokes were slow and even, and she remembered it hadn’t been that long since he’d come. He’d probably last a good while.

She relaxed under him, her hands stroking his back.

“My Sorcha,” he whispered into her ear. “Mine.”

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He kissed her shoulders and neck as he pumped into her, trailing his teeth along her collarbone before moving to the other side and repeat his motions. She shivered and moaned and burst into laughter.

“What?” He rose up and stopped his movements. “Are you laughing at me?”

“No. I was just wondering if I was I going to be punished for that moan.”

“Not hardly.” He pulled out of her and sat up on his knees.

“Oh, don’t take it away. Come back.” He lifted her so her ass rested on his thighs, then slid his cock inside her slit, the ring sliding across her clit.

Sorcha growled deep in her throat. He repeated the movement and she thrust up at him.

“Incredible. Oh, so good.”

“You like that?”

“You have no idea.” She shivered. “More. Please more.”

He did it again and again, the movements not causing enough friction to make her come. Instead, it send wave after wave of bliss through her body.

“Fuck me. Please.”

“Don’t you like this?” He teased her clit with the ring again.

“Yes, but I want you inside me.”

“You do?” His teasing tone was a new side to him and it made her smile.

“Where do you want me to fuck you, Sorcha?”

“You know.” She blinked at him coquettishly.

“Tell me. You have to learn to ask for it.”

“Diego, I can’t.”

“You can. It’s OK to like nasty things. Trust me on that.”

“Iwantyoutofuckmeintheass.”

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His laughter filled the room. “Say it slowly. Very slowly.”

“I want you to fuck me” -- she swallowed hard before finishing -- “in the ass.”

He stroked her clit and Sorcha came, her hips shooting off the bed as he continued to caress her until her movements stilled. He leaned down and kissed her gently.

“All you had to do was ask.”

He stood and pulled off the condom, walking to the bathroom. When he came back he was sliding a new one over his cock. He took several pillows from the other bed and moved them to the center of the one they were on, covering them with towels.

“Put your hips here.” She moved to roll over and he stopped her.

“No. I want to mount you from the front. This time I want to watch your face while I take your ass.”

He positioned the pillows under her hips, and slid in so he could easily penetrate her, pulling her bottom against thighs. Her legs were splayed wide and he pushed his thumb against her clit.

“Come, Sorcha, come for me.” He pushed her clit down into her body, and Sorcha came, screaming his name as his cock slid into her ass. She tried to move to take more of him but his free hand stilled her as his thumb continued to circle her clit.

“Easy. Easy. Let me control my penetration. You’ll get it all. Relax. Come at will, Sorcha. Come as many times as you can. Right now, we’re not the Master and his toy. We’re Diego and Sorcha.”

The pressure on her clit was almost painful as Diego pushed his cock further into her.

“Where’s my cock, Sorcha?” He pushed deeper and she groaned.

“In my ass. So good.” She came again, her body tightening so much she thought she might explode.

“Ah, ah, I can’t. Oh, good.”

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“My kinky little girl. Show me you like my dick in your ass. I wish you’d have let me in on this secret earlier. I was worried about you not liking it. Not every woman does.” She felt his body go flush with her own, his cock buried deep inside her anus.

“I was worried you’d think I was a slut.”

“But I like slutty little women. Especially when they’re mine.” He grabbed both of her ankles and pushed her legs apart, pounding into her harder and harder.

“Finger that clit. Be nasty for me.”

She circled the aching bud, watching Diego’s face as he fastened his gaze on her pussy.

She lifted her fingers to her mouth, tasted her cream. He groaned deeply and said, “More.

Fuck yourself.”

She bent enough to insert two fingers into her pussy, sawing them in and out as Diego rode her. She pulled them out, sucked them into her mouth, and put her free hand on her clit.

“Fuck, yeah! Shit!” His pounding increased. “Here I come.”

Sorcha increased the motion on her clit, flying over the edge with him. He released her legs and their hands clawed at each other, as he bent down and gave her a harsh kiss, pushing her head back into the bed and forcing his tongue into her mouth. Their labored breathing was almost in sync as he pulled from her and collapsed next to her.

“Sorcha?”

“Yes, Diego.”

“When’s the lease up on your apartment?”

“Two months from now. Why?”

“Because it’s a shame to pay rent when you won’t be there anymore.”

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Chapter Twelve

Sorcha bit her thumbnail, then jumped when the door shut behind her. And locked.

The guard standing near it just stared at her.

“You get used to it. Don’t worry, you’ll be fine. Take one of the tables in the middle.”

She moved into the room, passing jumpsuit-clad inmates sitting at tables with loved ones. The prison was minimum security, and the visiting room held large tables. Visitors were allowed to touch, as in hugging and holding hands, but nothing else.

When she’d arrived, the guards had checked her ID, and they’d searched her bags, which included her purse and a few books she’d brought for Tony. They’d patted down her pockets and ushered her inside, saying the “offender” would be with her shortly.

She sat down at an empty table and watched the visitors talk with their guests. She knew her Aunt Marta had not visited Tony in some time, and she wondered how lonely he felt. Maybe, just maybe, if this worked she could get Ward to look into cutting his sentence.

“Sorcha?” Tony’s voice was full of wonder.

She stood and smiled at him. “Hola, primo. ¿Cómo estás?”

“Así-así. ¿Y tú? ¿Cuáles son usted que hace aquí?”

“I’m fine. And I’m here to see you, of course.”

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“Right.” He snorted and sat down. “Even my mother quit coming. Not that I blame her.”

Sorcha sat down opposite him and gave him a tight smile. She reached into her purse.

“I brought you some books. Some mystery novels I thought you might enjoy. And I brought some cookies, but the guards said you had to eat them here. Sorry, they’re not homemade.”

“Are you kidding me? This is fantastic. Thanks.”

He stuffed a cookie into his mouth, and then another one. Sorcha stared at him, trying to come to grips with the differences between the robust, handsome cousin she’d known and the man sitting across from her.

Tony had lost weight, and there were circles under his eyes. She jumped slightly when a guard appeared at the table.

“Ten more minutes.” Tony nodded and held up the bag of cookies in offering.

“Don’t mind if I do.” The guard took a cookie, then another. “I’ll give you a little extra time. Morales doesn’t get many visitors.”

He walked off and Tony sighed. “What he means to say is I get no visitors.”

“I’ll try and come back. You can tell me how you like this book. It’s about a woman whose husband is killed and she has to try and rebuild her life.”

Tony fastened his gaze on hers. There was a sparkle that hadn’t been there earlier. She was glad her cousin was smart.

“Is that a fact?”

“Yes. She wants to move somewhere to start a new life so no one could find her.”

“Maybe so. She might just choose a big city that’s nearby, like Albuquerque, where she would blend in. Change her name, lie low.”

“Very true. I don’t know this author.” She pushed the book toward him. “Do you?”

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He picked it up and nodded. “Janice Monroe. She’s a new one, but a good one.”

“Janice Monroe. I’ll have to pick one of hers up for me.” She took a cookie and bit into it, smiling when Tony put several of them in his pocket.

“We’ll see if I make it to my cell with these.”

“Tony. I’ll try to…”

“No. Don’t worry about not coming. This is my fault. The lure of easy money. Besides, I have a parole hearing soon. Maybe this time they’ll let me out. Be careful, Sorcha. Writing can be dangerous.”

“Well, I have a friend who’s helping me. He’ll protect me.”

“He’d better. Or I’ll be looking him up when I get out.”

* * * * *

Sorcha felt drained as she drove back to the hotel. She parked and sat in the truck, fighting back tears. Tony had tried to put on a brave face, but she knew her visit had affected him more than he wanted to let on.

He’d picked up on the information she was seeking so quickly. Last night, she and Diego had decided it would be too risky for her to take written information into the prison.

They’d decided on the books, hoping Tony would realize what she was talking about. And he had, immediately.

Janice Monroe. Her husband had killed a private prison guard and been killed himself, all on the orders of Dustin Jaymes. And she had the evidence to prove it.

Sorcha thought she took a big chance going back to Albuquerque, where Jaymes lived.

Either that, or she was very smart. If she lived far away from Jaymes, there was little chance he would see her if they went to different stores and theaters.

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Although Sorcha doubted a man like Jaymes did his own shopping. Maybe Janice Monroe had been smart to hide close to the danger, where Jaymes might not ever think of looking for her.

The door to the hotel room opened and Diego appeared, his cell phone at his ear and a frown on his face. He gestured for her to come inside and she did so, closing the door behind her.

“I’m not sure, Ward. She just got here. I’ll call you back in a little while.”

He closed the phone and nodded. “How’s your tight little bottom, mi juguete? Sore from the good pounding I gave it?”

Sorcha laughed nervously. “No, Master. It feels wonderful.”

“Good. How’s your cousin?”

“Lonely. Depressed. I feel so bad. He deserves payment for helping us.”

“He did a crime.”

“I understand, but he’s trying to help now. Can’t we try to help him?”

“We’ll see. Since he’s up for parole soon, we can put in a good word. How does that sound?”

“Great.”

“What did he tell you?”

“Janice Monroe. She’s living in Albuquerque.”

Diego pulled out his cell phone and hit a few buttons. “The book thing worked?”

“Yes.”

“Smart guy.”

He paced the room and barked out Ward’s name. “Sorcha and I are thinking about visiting my Aunt Janice in Albuquerque tomorrow. Will you be around? That’s right, Sweet Silence

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Albuquerque. OK. Yeah, well, I’ll e-mail you the time and place. We should be in Santa Fe by six tonight and you can confirm whether or not you’ll be there. Great.”

He hung up without saying good-bye.

“An aunt in Albuquerque?”

“Phones can be bugged.”

“And e-mails can be stolen.”

“That’s right. I gave him the first name there, and will give the last name in e-mail.

Hopefully, if something does happen, the woman’s full name isn’t in one place for them to steal.”

“Good idea.”

“I thought so.” He pulled out a case and hooked up a laptop. Sorcha sat down beside him on the bed as he powered it up and logged into a wireless network. When it was connected, he typed in the message:

“Meet us at the restaurant on Monroe Street. You know the one.”

He sent it without signing it and closed the laptop down.

“Let’s go. I want to get home.”

“Me, too. I want to come back and visit Tony some more. Will you come with me?”

“Sure. This time I’ll even go inside and meet him.”

“You’ll like him.”

“If he’s related to you, I have no doubt of that.”

* * * * *

Diego took the back roads, heading up through Alamogordo and Vaughn before turning toward Clines Corners. They stopped at the small town on I-40 to walk a bit and stock up on sodas and snack foods.

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When he announced it was time to get back on the road, Sorcha groaned.

“I’m tired of being in the car. Can’t we stay here a little bit longer?”

“Whiner, and no, we can’t. Besides, it’s only another hour.”

“Yeah, on the longest, most desolate road in the nation. Why don’t we just go to Albuquerque and stay at my place tonight?”

“Because your place doesn’t have a dungeon.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

He cocked his head at her.

“Diego.”

“Who do you belong to?”

“You, my liege.” Her words were soft.

“The first thing you need to learn, if you haven’t already, is that your Master is a very horny man. And I want to play tonight.”

“Yes, Sir.” She climbed into the truck and opened a soda can.

Diego pulled left onto the two-lane highway. They were doing construction on the road to widen it, and Sorcha hoped it was late enough at night that the workers would be gone. She voiced her opinion to Diego and he snorted.

“Fat chance. Look.”

He pulled to a stop in a line of cars and she groaned. “Told you we should have gone to Albuquerque.”

“Watch it. I’ll make you swallow me in front of the construction workers.”

“You wouldn’t.”

“Try me.” His grin was evil and Sorcha clamped her mouth shut.

They traded jokes for about forty-five minutes as they stopped and started and stopped and started. They were about twenty miles from joining I-25 when Diego said, “Screw this.”

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He cut off to the right onto a dirt road. The truck bounced on the uneven lane. Dust clouded up around the truck.

“Where are you going? How do you know this leads to the highway?”

“I don’t. But I’m sick of sitting and…shit.”

“What? Did we get a flat?”

“No, we got a tail.”

She made to turn around and he stopped her. “Don’t. Keep facing the front. Take my cell phone and call Ward. Tell him we’re being followed.”

“But how can you be sure that --”

“Just do it, baby.” His voice was low and even, and contained no anger. He winked at her and turned his gaze back at the road.

“The number?”

“Speed dial three.”

She punched the buttons. “Who are the first two?”

“The second one is work. The first one is my mother.”

“Good for you.”

He cut the truck around a small hole in the road. “Hey, even Doms have mothers who love them, and they love back.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Crap. Voice mail.”

“When it asks to page him, do it with a 9-1-1 after it.”

She listened to the message and punched in the numbers, then closed the phone and clutched it to her chest.

“Diego?”

“It’s OK, baby. I promise. I’m not going to let anyone hurt you.”

She nodded and gave him a tiny grin. The phone rang in her hands and she jumped.

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“Put him on speaker.”

“Diego? Where are you?”

“We’ve got a tail. I left the highway so we could try and get away from the road construction, thinking I could find a road in here that would lead us past the construction.

He came with us. Run this plate.”

Diego rattled off a number and Sorcha stared at him. “How did you see that in all this dust?”

“He was waiting for us at Clines Corners. I thought it looked weird for two guys to just be sitting there. I memorized the plate then.”

“All right. We’ve got José Barton, a known associate of our friend. Diego, I’m sending units your way. Do you know where it was you left the road?”

“About ten miles from the Interstate. There are houses out here, few and far between, true, but I don’t want to endanger someone. I’m turning around.”

“Be careful. We’re on our way.”

Sorcha’s eyes widened. Diego clutched the wheel and turned to her.

“If they start shooting, keep your head down.”

“Shooting? Diego.”

“Remember what I said, I’m not going to let them hurt you, not my sweet little juguete.”

He slammed on the brakes and the truck fishtailed into the dirt and low-lying bushes.

Sorcha clutched the door as he floored the gas and turned the wheel sharply, the truck spinning as he went. The truck behind them tried to follow, but ended up part way into the open field before it could turn around. Diego took off like a bat out of hell as Sorcha tensed up, grabbing the door and the plastic strap built into the frame.

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“Keep your hands and head down. Bend down.” She saw him looking into the rear view mirror as the truck bounced along the road. Any second now, she expected him to lose control, or for a tire to blow. When a loud crack sounded, Sorcha screamed.

“Motherfucker! Keep your head down!” Diego cut the truck right into the field, weaving in and out through sparsely placed trees. “Yeah, shoot at us now, you motherfucker.”

He cut back toward the road and Sorcha clutched the seat.

“Relax, baby,” Diego said. “¡Chinga usted, ustedes pequeños bastardos! ¿Como te atreves a amenazar a mi mujer?”

If she hadn’t been so frightened, Diego’s screaming at them about threatening his woman would have made her heart soar. As it was, she was scared to death, frightened that a bullet would find its way inside the truck, and into Diego or herself.

“How far to the road?” Her voice shook and he took his hand off the wheel long enough to caress her shoulder for a few seconds.

“Not far, baby. O no permitiré que ellos te hagan daño.”

She lifted her frightened gaze to look at him. “I know you won’t.”

“There it is. That’s it.” He sounded relieved, and then he let out a string of cuss words.

“What?”

“Too many people. Too many cars.” He slammed on the brakes again and threw the truck into reverse.

“What are you doing?”

“Throwing a wrench into his plan. He wants to chase me? Try doing it while I’m in reverse.”

Dust clouded around the vehicles and Sorcha lifted her head. “How can you see him?”

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“I can make out an outline.” He pulled his gun from his holster. “Can you hold the wheel?”

“Are you kidding me?” She shook her head violently.

“Come here. Hold it steady.”

“You’re going to shoot? No, Diego!”

He set the gun on the space between them, then slammed on the brakes and turned the truck so it was facing the other vehicle. Both trucks sat silently, facing each other like boxers waiting for the bell. He hit the button to lower the window.

“I’m going to run straight for him, like a big game of chicken. Cut right when I say so and I’ll shoot at his tires.”

“He’ll be shooting, too!”

“Probably. It’s this or take it to the highway.”

Sorcha turned to the other truck. “He’s coming.”

“You ready?”

She nodded, took off her seatbelt, and scooted across the seat. She kissed Diego’s cheek and took a deep breath.

“Ready.”

“Don’t worry, baby, we’ll both be alive tomorrow for me to fuck your sweet ass.”

She choked out a laugh and took the wheel, screaming out Diego’s name as he pushed the speed higher and higher.

“Cut right!” She turned sharply, praying the truck didn’t roll. The sound of bullets filled the air and she whimpered when Diego slammed on the brakes.

“Got him! Idiot shot the truck instead of the wheels.” As the truck slowed, they turned to watch the other vehicle tumble to its side, then onto its hood, the bed hitting the ground and putting it at a weird angle.

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The sound of sirens filled the air as Diego ejected the gun’s magazine and slammed another one in place. He reached for his door handle, then stopped.

“The cavalry’s here. Late, but they’re here. Stay in the truck. Promise me that no matter what happens, you’ll stay here until me or Ward comes to get you.”

She nodded and he left the car at a run, his gun clutched in his hand. She turned to watch vehicles approach from the way they’d come and relief flooded her body.

She could hear screaming, and see men running toward the overturned truck. She watched them pull both men from the cab and stand them upright. She smiled as she watched Ward stop Diego from slamming his fist into one of the men’s faces, and again heard him scream in Spanish about the fucker threatening his woman.

His woman. She was his woman.

When she saw Diego heading toward her, she exited the truck and ran to him, throwing her arms around him. He gathered her close.

“I thought I told you to stay inside.”

“I couldn’t wait anymore.”

“Oh, really? Well, crap.” He’d sounded amused, then angry.

“You’re that mad?”

“My truck. Look at the bullet holes in my truck.” He ran his fingers over the holes in the truck bed. “I’ll kill him.”

She couldn’t help but laugh. “You’re lucky it wasn’t your head.”

“Or yours.” He caressed her cheek. “Are you sure you’re OK?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go home. We’ll do paperwork tomorrow. Right now, I want a shower and a nice long nap.”

“Sounds good to me. I call dibs on the shower first, though.”

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“Are you kidding? We’ll shower together. Saves water, and gives me an opportunity to play with your beautiful body at the same time.”

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Chapter Thirteen

Low voices came from the kitchen. Sorcha groaned, sat up, and lay back down. Her body ached, her shoulders felt like she’d been put inside of a dryer and turned around and around and around.

Or at least that’s what Sorcha thought it felt like. Last night in the shower, Diego had found several small bruises from where she’d been thrown against the door during a turn, or bounced against the steering wheel at the end.

He’d kissed each one, telling her he was sorry for putting her in danger. He’d dried her off and taken her to his bed where he’d gently loved her, putting himself in every orifice in her body until she screamed with pleasure, over and over again.

She turned toward the nightstand and frowned at the sheet of paper sitting there. She picked it up, saw a collar resting under it, read it, and laughed.

You’ve had some fun as just Sorcha. It’s time for my juguete to return. Put on your collar and come to breakfast.

Put on my collar? She could still hear voices coming from the kitchen. Who was he talking to? Ward? Or someone else? How would she feel if she walked into the kitchen 128

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wearing a collar and it was someone else? Would this person know why she was wearing a collar, or would they wonder if she was someone strange?

She stood and picked up the clothes she’d dropped on the floor last night. They were dusty and sweaty and she put them back on the floor. Where was her suitcase? She looked around and didn’t find it.

Finally, after several minutes of searching, she found another note from Diego sitting on the bathroom counter.

There are clothes for you in the dungeon. Find them there. Put them on. Hurry up.

She attached the collar around her neck, then rushed across the hall, stopping short at what she found. Clothes? He called these items clothes?

Her boots were there, lying on the table next to the leather skirt she’d worn the first day. The blouse lying on top of it, though, wasn’t a blouse. It tied up the middle and was made of sheer black material. She held it up and frowned, then gasped when she realized there were two slits cut in each side, one for each breast to slide through.

“Mi juguete?” Diego’s voice sounded from the end of the hallway. “I know you’re awake because I heard you moving around. Get dressed and come to the kitchen.”

His footsteps faded away and she let out a heavy sigh. Either she wanted to be his juguete full time, or she didn’t. She thought about the last few days and the pleasures she’d received. She slipped into the clothes, but left her breasts behind the material. She pulled on the boots and started toward the kitchen, wondering who was going to see her half naked, as her Master liked her to be.

Diego turned toward the door as she walked in. He hid a grin, and pointed to the table.

“Say hello to our guests, Eric Neal and Angel Vega. And before you ask, they’re not here for an interview.”

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“Good morning.” She felt exposed in her clothing. Both of them were wearing jeans and sweaters. The only thing that would have set them off as a BDSM couple was the velvet choker that Angel wore around her neck.

“Good morning,” Eric replied. “We brought food to celebrate.”

“Celebrate?” Sorcha turned to Diego. “What are we celebrating?”

“Well, the ever efficient Ward had already found Janice Monroe when we were coming back to town. She was on her way to Santa Fe at the same time we were, and she had the tape. A special grand jury is meeting right now. Jaymes should be in custody before the end of the day, charged with murder, and conspiracy to commit murder.”

Sorcha yelped. “Fantastic! My story?”

“Ward said to tell you he’d talk to you tonight, in plenty of time for you to make the morning papers.”

“That doesn’t guarantee they’ll buy it from me.”

“They will if they want it tomorrow morning,” Diego said. “He’s not talking to anyone else.”

“The men who were chasing us?”

“In the hospital, banged up but still breathing. Damnit. Not talking, but they will be when they realize they’re in deep, deep trouble.”

Sorcha launched herself at Diego. He caught her and hugged her close, both of them laughing.

“But what about Tony?” She pushed back slightly.

“I’m working on that, baby. But I can’t promise anything.”

“But he helped. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t…” She closed her mouth when Diego held up a finger.

“I know that. Give me time.”

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“Yes, Sir.”

She yelped when he moved aside the skirt and smacked her bottom.

“It’s perfect that Eric and Angel showed up. She brought food, fresh bread, and a delicious-smelling casserole with eggs and chorizo.”

“Where is it?”

“In the fridge. First, we’re going to play, and you’re going to be punished.”

“Punished. For what?”

“Has mi juguete forgotten the twenty-five minutes she owes me in the chair? Or her other offenses, like coming without permission, moaning without permission, and there was the other little thing two nights ago?”

Sorcha sucked in air as she remembered pounding her fists against Diego’s chest.

“No, Sir. I haven’t forgotten.”

“Good. I decided one punishment would fit the crimes. At first, I thought about a good flogging, ’cause I haven’t done that to you yet. But I thought, too cliché. I was thinking of other things when Eric called and said they were almost here.”

“The phone rang?”

“Almost an hour ago. I was about to wake you up when I heard you. Now, back to your punishment. We’ve had a few hard days, and I thought about postponing it. But now that we have guests, it’s too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Sorcha wanted to scream at him. She didn’t want to be punished. She’d been good.

She’d helped him when men intent on killing them were chasing them. But she knew that was a separate thing.

“Do you want to know what your punishment is?”

“Yes, my liege.”

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“I’m going to bind you to the St. Andrew’s cross in the dungeon. I’m going to tease and torture you while we watch Eric and Angel have sex. When they’re done, you’ll suck me off.

I’m going to leave you hanging. No orgasm for you today. At all. By this time tomorrow, you’ll be begging me for it.”

“My liege, please…”

“See, you’re begging already. My sweet toy is an exhibitionist, Eric. She doesn’t like to admit it, but she loves being on display. We’ll see how much she loves watching.”

He pushed her away slightly, then lifted each breast through the slit in the blouse.

“Perfect.” He turned to Eric. “Shall we?”

* * * * *

Diego fastened the last manacle onto her wrist, and Sorcha was firmly fastened to the cross. She clenched her fists and tried to relax. It was hard to do so. He’d pushed the skirt up above her thighs, so her private areas were totally on display. What bothered her the most, though, was he was right. She liked it.

Eric studied her as Angel knelt in front of him, her hands clasped behind her back. She was totally naked, and Sorcha admired her body, which was slightly slimmer than her own.

She turned her gaze back to Diego when he ground the handle of a flogger into her bellybutton.

“You said no flogger, my liege.”

“No, I didn’t. I said I wasn’t going to do a big flogging scene. It doesn’t mean I’m not going to use one. Or two. Or three.”

He leaned in so his mouth was inches away from hers. “Who do you belong to?”

“You, Master Diego.”

“Will you ever come again without my permission?” He pushed the flogger harder into her belly.

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“No, my liege.”

“What about moaning?”

“Never. Not without your permission, Master.”

The handle of the flogger moved to her pussy. He pressed it hard against her, grinding it against her clit.

“What about the little hissy fit you threw the other night?”

“I’m sorry, Master. So sorry. Forgive me.”

“I do. This punishment will wipe your slate clean. It’ll be hard to go without an orgasm for an entire day, but it will leave an impression on you.” He moved back and held the flogger in front of her face.

“Open.”

He placed the handle inside her mouth. “Hold that for me.”

She clenched her teeth around the leather when he pinched her nipples; he quickly stepped back and nodded to Eric.

Diego moved to a table, hopping on, his gaze focused on Sorcha. “Watch them. Don’t let your eyes leave their bodies, no matter what I say or do.”

“Stand up, Apuro.” Angel stood. “Would you like to fuck?”

“Yes, Master Eric.”

“Suck those titties.”

Sorcha tensed. Diego never said anything about Angel being able to play with her body. She’d never done anything like that, and wasn’t sure she liked the idea. She wanted to look at him, plead with her eyes to not let it happen. Instead, she obeyed and kept her eyes trained on the couple in front of her.

When Angel lifted her own nipple to her mouth, Sorcha relaxed against the cross. Her loud sucking noises filled the room.

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“Don’t forget the other one,” Eric said. “You don’t want her to feel left out.”

Angel quickly obeyed and Eric stroked her hair. “My beautiful Angel. Do you want to come?”

“Yes, Master.” He tipped her mouth to his and kissed her. He sat a chair in front of the cross and motioned her over. “Sit down and masturbate for Sorcha. Come as many times as you like.”

Sorcha’s breathing intensified as she watched Angel sit and spread her legs. Her fingers went to her pussy and Sorcha wanted to look away, but she was fascinated, truly fascinated.

Angel stroked her soft folds as Eric kneaded her shoulders. Her fingers tugged on the ring that rested near her clit and Sorcha wondered what it would feel like to be pierced -- pierced for Diego. Angel’s fingers began to move faster and Sorcha thought she would die from the need.

“Oh, Master, oh, I’m coming. Master. Master. Yes.”

“Good girl. That’s it; come for us. Come hard. Keep playing.”

Angel came again and Sorcha lifted her eyes to the ceiling.

“Watch her.” Diego’s bark was sharp. She turned her eyes back to the woman, who was taking a dildo from Eric and placing it at her pussy entrance.

Diego stood and walked behind Sorcha. She could feel his heat, the hotness of his breath against her neck.

“You thought I was going to physically torture you, didn’t you?”

She nodded.

“Sometimes torture is mental. It’s being forced to remain still and silent, wanting something so badly you could taste it, but knowing you can’t have it.”

Angel began to fuck herself with the dildo, sliding it back and forth as Eric’s fingers worked her clit. She screamed out another orgasm and Sorcha thought she would die from the need raging in her own body.

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“Please, my liege,” she whispered around the handle of the flogger. Sorcha’s body was on fire. Flames of need flickered around her nipples and clit, tightening them both to a degree that was almost painful.

“Please!” She wanted to spit the flogger out, to scream with desire. She wanted to come.

“No. You’ll watch. And stay still.” Angel’s breathing was labored as Eric removed the dildo from her hands and helped her to stand.

“What would you like me to do, Apuro?’

“Fuck me, Master. Fuck me hard. Nothing feels as good as your cock.”

Eric led her to a table where she bent over. He released his cock, grasped her hips, and entered her in one swift stroke. She cried out in pleasure and Sorcha wanted to weep. Her own body clenched as if Eric had slammed himself into her. No, not Eric. Diego. She wanted Diego’s cock, wanted to feel that ring hitting her G-spot again as he ground himself into her.

She hissed when he gently touched her shoulder. “Never throw a fit on me again, mi juguete. Do you understand?” He took the flogger from her mouth.

The sounds of flesh slapping against flesh filled the room.

“Yes, my liege.”

“You’ll learn discipline. If you’re angry about something, you tell me. Don’t ever, ever go off on me again. And I promise you the same thing. I don’t get angry like that, and if I do, we’ll talk about it. Understand?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Promise me.”

“I promise, Diego. I promise.”

He turned her head toward him and their gazes locked and he nodded. They both turned to Eric and Angel. Their fucking turned frantic, hard thrusts pushing Angel against the table as she cried out for more. When Eric came, he grabbed her shoulders and thrust so Sweet Silence

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hard Sorcha thought Angel might break in two. Instead, she screamed out his name, begging him to fuck her harder.

Diego still stood behind her. When Eric’s thrusts had stopped, he leaned in.

“Did you like that, baby?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Would you like it to be you?”

“Yes, my liege.”

“Maybe tomorrow.” He moved away, sitting back down on the table he’d sat on earlier.

He took out his cock and started to stroke it.

“I thought? Master?”

He slid his hand up and down his shaft, an evil glint in his eyes. “Beg me.”

“Master, please. I want to suck you. You said I could.” Sorcha fought against her bonds.

She knew she sounded like a petulant child, but she didn’t care. She wanted his cock. Now. If she couldn’t have an orgasm, at least she could suck him, taste his cum.

“Master.” This time the word sounded more needy than the last. “Please?”

He continued to stroke himself, his gaze not leaving her face. “Eric? Will you undo my subbie?”

Sorcha glanced at him. He was still lying across Angel’s back, both of them panting. He gently pushed himself away and put his cock back in his pants, then slowly walked toward Sorcha. Each step was torture. He slowly undid her bonds and she wanted to scream at him to hurry.

Diego continued to stroke his cock. Would he come before she could get there? Would she be denied even that pleasure? When she was finally free, she stepped off the platform and hurried to Diego. She knelt in front of him.

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“Please?” Excitement surged through her. Even though she knew she would be denied, she still wanted him. Needed him. “Master?”

“Scoot back.” When she was in the position he wanted, he stepped in front of her.

“Swallow me whole.”

Sorcha moaned softly as she tilted her head and took him into her mouth, swirling her tongue around the head of his cock. She toyed with the ring and sucked him deeper. His hands fisted in her hair and his groan made her feel powerful, made her feel his need as deeply as she felt her own.

She tipped her head back, flattened her tongue, and sucked him down her throat.

“Oh, man. She’s got your whole dick in her mouth. You don’t see that very often.”

Eric’s groan made Diego laugh as Sorcha worked her muscles around his cock. She took him in and out several times, always making sure to lash her tongue around his balls when he was fully ensconced in her throat. It didn’t take long for Diego to go over the edge. He shot down her throat, his hands fisted in her hair.

She released him quickly, coughing and bending over, putting her head against his thigh.

“Feeling all right?”

“Yes, my liege.”

He helped her to stand and patted her hip. “Horny?”

“Very.”

“You’ll make it. It’ll be a hard day, but you’ll love tomorrow, I guarantee it.”

Eric held up his hand and Diego turned to him.

“Does she give lessons?”

Angel laughed and walked to Eric’s side. “There’s no way I could do that. Sorry.”

“Sure there is,” Diego said. “Learning is always a good thing.”

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Chapter Fourteen

Sorcha bit her thumbnail and jiggled her leg up and down, finally putting her hands on it to stop the movement. She sat in the offices of the Trib, waiting to talk to the news editor, Jacob Martinez.

The day had been long, and it had been stressful. The grand jury had returned a quick indictment. Diego, Ward, and Eric had arrested Jaymes, who now sat in jail with his previous bond revoked, and bond denied on the new charge.

She’d been pissed Diego hadn’t allowed her to go along on the bust. It wasn’t fair, really. She’d helped to bring him down; she deserved to be there when he was arrested. But he’d refused, saying she’d faced enough danger in the last few days. She knew he’d been right.

While he’d been gone, she’d done a lot of thinking. Getting a job through blackmail, and that’s basically what the Jaymes story amounted to, wasn’t something she was proud of.

She was more professional than that.

She’d lost her job because she’d been less than professional. Now, she was trying to force them to take her back, by offering them an exclusive on the biggest story in the area. It would probably work, true, but she would feel like garbage for the tactics she was using.

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Plus, how could she ever work here again? She needed the job, but didn’t she need her self-esteem more? She could move, find a smaller paper and work there.

But what about Diego? Now that she’d found him there was no way she could leave him. And he was firmly entrenched in his job as a cop. She knew it would be best if she just tried to find work somewhere else.

Diego had said she would be moving in with him, but she couldn’t allow him to pay all the bills. She wasn’t the type of person who could mooch off another, and that’s what it would feel like to her.

She’d have to see if she could find a different job, in a different profession. Giving up reporting would kill her, because she loved it, but she couldn’t continue to write for lesser publications, with screaming headlines and sensationalized stories, and cringe when she picked them up.

She thought about Diego, and the fantastic way she felt when they were together.

Would he support her if she made a decision that went against what she’d been fighting for?

She knew he would.

He’d been supportive today, when she’d interviewed Ward, taken the information, and written the story. He’d stood by her, offering help and trying to read over her shoulder, laughing when she pushed him away. She knew he would support her in whatever she did.

The day had been long, and hard. But now she sat with a memory stick clutched in her hands, her future as a journalist resting on what was inside that stick.

“Sorcha? Always a pleasure. Well, not always.”

She stood and shook hands with Jacob Martinez, the news editor. “What do you have there?”

“Well, it’s an exclusive I was going to use to try and blackmail you into giving me a job.

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that I know what I’m doing. We can talk to Ward McGovern at the state offices. He’ll confirm it all.”

Martinez took the stick and frowned at her.

“Marks!” A young man walked to him and he handed him the memory stick. “Open the file on here, print it out, and bring it back to me.”

The young man was back in minutes, his eyes gleaming with interest as he handed the papers to his boss and looked at Sorcha. Jacob read the lead, his eyes widening.

“Holy shit.” He moved quickly, calling names and telling the copy desk to scrap what was above the fold. He turned to Sorcha. “This is verifiable, right?”

“I told you, call Ward McGovern. Oh, wait. Let me call him.”

She pulled out Diego’s cell phone and hit the speed dial. When Ward came on, she cleared her throat.

“I’m breaking our deal. I’m giving the story to the Trib, no strings attached. I want you to talk to their reporter.”

“You’re kidding? After all the crap you pulled? Geez, woman. How many personalities do you have? Are you going to change your mind again tomorrow?”

“Screw you, Ward. Talk to the reporter.”

“Fine, fine. Tell them to call me.” He disconnected and Sorcha nodded at Martinez.

Martinez gave her a look of approval and introduced her to Randy Pino, the police reporter.

Several hours later, Sorcha walked away from the building, still unemployed but with her ethics intact. She hadn’t blackmailed anyone for a job. She hadn’t done something she would regret for the rest of her life. And she’d proven to herself she could get a huge story, and get it done right.

Plus, she’d found a Dom. Not just any Dom, but Diego Fuentes, bondage expert and fantastic lover. All in all, she figured she’d come out the winner.

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* * * * *

She parked the car in Diego’s driveway. When she’d left the newspaper office, she’d stopped by her apartment to pick up her clothing. She wouldn’t be sorry to say goodbye to the small apartment.

Diego had told her that when she returned from the newspaper office they would talk about their future together, and jobs, and money and living arrangements. She would miss Albuquerque, for sure. Santa Fe was nice, but Albuquerque had always been her home.

She wondered if she could talk him into finding them a house on land in between the two. It would be nice. That way they would have equal traveling distance to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. And Tygers. And, knowing his penchant for outdoor sex, it would give them plenty of space for fucking. And bondage.

She got out of the car and gathered a bundle of clothes in her hands, heading for the front door. She kicked the screen with her foot.

“Diego? Open the door, please.”

She got no answer, and she wondered where he was. His truck sat next to the house, so she knew he was home. Unless he’d gone out with Ward. But if he had, he wouldn’t have left the front door open.

“Diego!” When no answer came she juggled the clothes, reaching out to turn the latch on the door, opening it just enough so she could kick it the rest of the way open with her foot. She stepped inside and deposited her clothing in the nearest chair. She turned to go back outside and pick up another load, then screamed when arms came around her and a black hood came over her head. Her arms were gathered behind her back and her assailant gathered her close.

She screamed out Diego’s name, the sound muffled by the cloth. She kicked out her feet, but her captor gathered her in his arms and began to drag her back toward the bedroom.

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She tried to find purchase as they moved, but she couldn’t. Everything was black. Her heart raced.

Where was Diego? Were these Jaymes’s men? Had they found out what had happened?

“Diego! If you’ve hurt him… Damn you! Let me go! ¡Cabrón!” She started to cuss in Spanish, twisting and turning. The man holding her was powerful, his chest massive. He threw her on the bed, face down. She kicked up her legs, hoping to come into contact with his balls.

He sidestepped the kick gracefully, never muttering a word of pain when her foot connected with his shin.

When handcuffs fastened around her wrists, she screamed again, the scream growing louder as the hood was pulled from her head.

Hot breath spread over her neck as the man leaned forward.

“Hi, there. I missed you.” Diego kissed her neck, then stood. “Oh, yummy. Such a tasty little subbie.”

“You, you…beso mi culo, un pinche cabrón! Let me go. You scared the shit out me!”

“Kiss your ass, huh? OK.” He pulled up her skirt, then tugged on her panties. The sound of ripping fabric filled the room and Sorcha screamed, and started to laugh.

“Stop that!” Her laughter turned into moans as Diego’s lips began to roam over her ass cheeks. He parted her buttocks and pushed at her rosette, inserting his thumb and turning her moans into loud groans. He started to move it back and forth, propelling the little digit in and out of her as she wiggled under him.

He bit her ass just hard enough for it to burn and she cried out.

“Don’t you ever call me a fucking asshole again? Understand?” He slapped her ass above the bite and she whimpered.

“Yes, please!”

“Please what?”

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“Let me free.”

“You should know better than that. By the way, Ward told me what you did. He’s royally pissed because you made him dance through hoops, then changed your mind. I’m very proud of you, baby.”

He continued to fuck her with his thumb, his other fingers trailing down to her now wet pussy. He continued to kiss her ass cheeks, his teeth grazing over her skin, sometimes gently, sometimes not.

“Wanna go to Tygers tonight?”

“Um.” His fingers probed for entrance in her pussy as his thumb continued to plunder her ass.

“Do you? I have some new rope, and I already reserved one of the observation rooms, so everyone can watch me tie my new subbie. Unless you want me to tie someone else. Do you want to play tonight, or not?”

“Master. Please.” His fingers were moving faster. The adrenaline rush she had from his

“abduction” still coursed through her veins, and had turned into a powerful need. “Fuck me.”

“Answer me!”

“Yes. Yes. Please, anything, just, oh lord, Diego! Please fuck me!”

She whimpered when he withdrew his fingers. “Don’t leave me like this.”

“I thought you were mad at me?” He threw himself on her body, pushing her down into the bed. “Beg for my cock.”

He pumped himself against her harder and harder. The sensations were overwhelming.

She wanted his cock everywhere, in her mouth, her pussy, and her ass. If possible, all at the same time.

“Please, Diego, I need your cock, please give it to me.”

“Louder! Beg me!”

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He moved onto his knees and she heard his zipper come down as she repeated her words. She tried to lift up to give him better access, but he pushed her down on the bed.

“Louder. Scream it. Let the neighbors know I’m in here fucking you.”

“Diego!” The words tore from her mouth. “Give me you cock. Please!”

Her loud groan filled the room as he drove into her pussy. “Like that, huh? Do you like that?”

“Yes! Oh yes!” He bent her more, then got up on his haunches, driving himself into her wetness over and over. He straddled her with one leg on either side of her hips, pumping harder and harder inside her. The ring stroked her G-spot over and over and Sorcha’s insides turned to melted goo. His strokes were relentless, hard, and powerful, and Sorcha reveled in it, just as she had the day he’d taken her in the park, just as she had the day he’d claimed her ass so masterfully in the motel room, just as she did every time he touched her.

“Diego. Please. I. Master.” Even though she couldn’t make a coherent sentence, he knew what she wanted, knew she had to come.

“Yes. Now.” Her muscles contracted as the ring hit her G-spot again and Sorcha sailed toward the stars. Diego’s strangled, “oh fuck” let her know that her tightening walls had pushed him over the edge, too. She felt his warm seed inside her and she briefly panicked, then decided that it was too late to worry about it, so she relaxed into the bed and enjoyed his final hard thrusts.

He collapsed on top of her and kissed her shoulder. “Baby. Did I hurt you?”

“No. Oh, that was so, um…”

“Unexpected?”

She laughed. “Yes. That’s one way of putting it. That was incredible.”

“Stay there. I’ll go and get the key.” He stood up and muttered an oath. “Baby, I’m sorry. I forgot the condom.”

She heard him walk to the dresser, then felt the bed dip under his weight.

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“Heat of the moment and all that,” she said softly as he unlocked the cuffs. “I know you’re not diseased.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about. The men in my family are very fertile.”

“So, you’re going to kick me out if I get pregnant?”

“No, just the opposite. It will curtail my bondage activities for a bit, but I could see you rounded with my baby, very easily.”

Her eyes widened as he lay beside her, pulling her close to him. “Did I scare you?”

“A little. In more ways than one.”

He kissed her shoulder. “My Sorcha. All mine.”

She rubbed her wrists then turned her head for his kiss. He claimed her lips gently and probed into her mouth, flicking his tongue over hers until she groaned with delight.

“Let’s eat and rest before we go to Tygers.” He stood and walked to the doorway, unconscious of the fact that his cock was still out of his pants. “Oh and by the way, I quit my job today.”

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Chapter Fifteen

“Could we talk about the no job thing?” Sorcha sat in the car, her seatbelt still fastened.

She was wearing the same outfit she’d worn in the car on the way to the cabin, short leather skirt, halter top, and thigh high boots. Diego had just pulled the truck into the Tygers parking lot. He pulled his door closed and caressed her face.

“Baby. It’s gonna be fine.”

“No, Diego, it’s not. I’ve been without a job for the last two years. Two years. You can’t hardly find one, trust me. And it sucks. It really sucks. Can’t you tell them you’ve reconsidered?”

“Do you like me any less, now that I’m unemployed?”

“No. That’s not the point.”

“I had to give a month’s notice, so I still have four weeks’ worth of work, and four weeks’ worth of pay. Plus, I have vacation time I’ll be paid for, and lots of other technical stuff. We’ll be fine. Plus, some friends of mine and I have been kicking around the idea of a detective agency. Still cop work, kind of, yet we’d be our own bosses. You have to trust me on this. It’s going to be good. And you can work for us.”

“As what? I’m not a detective.”

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“You’re a good investigative reporter, though.” He kissed her nose.

“As long as you don’t think I’m a lap dog to do nothing more than track down files and stuff like that, we’re all right.”

“We’re all right. Now, let’s go play.” They exited the truck and he took rope from the back of the cab. She noticed it was purple, just like the one he’d used on her at the cabin.

“Been to Colorado lately?” They walked toward Tygers and he stopped and fingered the green choker around her neck. A smaller chain-mail choker lay just under it.

“No, it was shipped to me. Along with some red rope, and some light blue rope. All of which will go perfectly with your cocoa skin.”

When they reached the door, Chess opened it.

“Master Diego. Subbie Sorcha. Welcome.”

“Thank you, subbie Chess. How’s it going?”

“Fine, thank you, Sir.”

When they were inside the main foyer, Sorcha stopped. “I’m nervous.”

“Why?”

“This is the first time I’ve been back since, um, you know.”

Diego laughed. “Don’t worry. Ty’s not going to punish you. He left that up to me. He might give you a stern talking to, but he won’t do it in front of others. No one knows of the incident, except us.”

She blushed furiously and he gave her an evil grin. They deposited their coats and he attached a leash to her collar. They walked quickly through the main room and into the private area. Sorcha was glad that she’d learned how to walk in the heels.

Tygers was hopping tonight. The public room was full, as was the members’ area. Diego stopped inside and scanned the room, then headed toward a table in the back. She recognized Eric and Angel sitting with several people she didn’t know.

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Diego sat down uninvited and pulled Sorcha down onto his lap. “You know Eric and his Angel. This is Lake and his Lucy, and you are…?”

“Marcy. I’m a friend of Lucy’s. We own the Vines that Bind Us.”

“Nice to meet you, Marcy. I’m Diego and this is my Sorcha.” Her heart soared at his words, which spilled so easily from his lips. Not “this is Sorcha,” but “my Sorcha.” She didn’t miss the smug looks that Eric and Lake gave him, as if to say, “Told you so.”

They started making small talk about Lucy and Marcy’s shop, but Sorcha tuned them out. She didn’t want to talk, she wanted to play. She wanted Diego’s hands on her body as he tied knots around her, binding her to him in a physical way, the same way she felt bound to him mentally and emotionally. It was a scary thought, since it had been so long, and her last relationship had ended so abruptly, and with seemingly little feeling on Thomas’ part. She didn’t think she’d have that problem with Diego. He was very physical, yes, but he’d let her in on his emotions, too. The idea made her shiver.

Her pussy was on fire. She didn’t want to sit and chat. She wanted Diego to bind her.

Now. She wiggled and frowned when he ignored her. When she wiggled again, he pulled on her leash enough to bring her ear next to his lips.

“Stop that. Or we’ll go home, right now. We play on my timetable, not yours.”

“Yes, my liege. I’m sorry.”

“Discipline, Sorcha. It’s very important. Now sit still.” He took a chip from a basket in the center of the table and fed it to her. She ate quietly as he fed her another, and another.

The others were talking, and Sorcha was very aware that Marcy was watching her intently.

She’d never met the woman before, and had never seen her in Tygers, and she wondered why the woman was focusing on her. The other women wore skimpy clothing and collars.

Reality dawned. Neither Lucy or Angel had leashes attached to their collars. And their Masters weren’t feeding them. Still, she wondered why she was the woman’s center of attention.

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“Are you a sub, Marcy?” Sorcha stiffened as Diego’s words echoed the ones running through her mind.

“No.” The woman’s voice was soft.

“She’s curious,” Lake said. “We offered to bring her along tonight, so she could watch and get a feel for things. We’re thinking about introducing her to Ward.”

“Fantastic idea,” Diego said. “I love it. I’d say call him right now, but I know he’s busy with the Jaymes thing.”

Eric nodded, and Marcy sat up straighter.

“Are you going to tie her up? I’m sorry, that sounded rude. It’s just that I’ve heard you’re an expert at bondage and…”

“You wanted to watch?” Diego said.

“Yes.”

Lucy laughed. “Marcy’s a potter, and quite a good artist. She thinks bondage can be seen as art.”

“It can,” Diego said. “Shibari is a definite art. Very sensual and very arousing. That’s the plan for the evening. You’re welcome to watch.”

“Thanks. I also do photography and would love it if you would let me photograph a session sometime.”

Diego nodded. “I like that idea. A lot. We’ll make a plan for it sometime in the near future.”

He patted Sorcha on the thigh and she stood. He led her to observation room number two, and Sorcha’s stomach jumped to see so many people there, waiting to watch. She knew that Diego’s prowess with rope play was legendary, but seeing all these people, most of them she didn’t know, was exciting. She just didn’t know if she was excited in a good way, or a bad way. As if reading her mind, Diego winked at her and led her to the front of the room.

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She followed him and stepped out of her clothing, including her boots, at his order. He offered her a pair of stiletto heels and she slipped them on her feet.

“No talking,” he whispered in her ears as he bound her wrists together.

She nodded and followed him to the platform where he attached the rope around her wrists to one hanging from the ceiling. He wound several lengths of rope around her forearms, pushing them close together. When she was secured, he nodded at Ty, who pressed a button that lifted her arms above her head.

He walked around her, studying her body. When he stepped behind her and put his hands on her hips she thought she might come on the spot, with no stimulation. It felt so good to have him touch her.

“Widen your stance, just a little.” She moved her legs apart and took several deep breaths to try and get her excitement under control. He patted her behind, and picked up his first piece of rope.

Sorcha had no idea exactly what he would do; she just knew that when he placed the rope against her skin it was like a soft caress. He wrapped it around her middle, doubling it over and tying knots, tugging and giving her questioning looks from time to time.

The rope centered around her waist, then trailed down between her legs, pulled tight so that the soft hemp rested against her clit. Her already engorged bundle of nerves reacted just as she knew it would. It pulsed with energy, almost demanding to be rubbed, to be allowed completion.

Diego pulled on it once, tucking it behind her so that the binding lay against her rosette. He tied it to the ropes around her waist, and bent to pick up more rope.

He worked steadily, tying knots in various places so that patches of skin were visible.

He bound her breasts tightly, with rope above them and below, so that they stood out for all to see. He wound ropes over her shoulder, one of either side of her nipples, pushing them 150

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snugly so that the hardened buds were trapped. They looked larger than they ever had before and he tweaked one before attaching the clamps with the bells.

While he worked, Sorcha felt transported. A wonderfully airy feeling took over her body with each turn of the rope, with each feel of Diego’s fingers as he tied the knots. When he was satisfied he stepped back and examined her. She looked at him through lowered lids, her eyes feeling as if she were drugged from the heady feeling of surrender that submitting to Diego’s ropes gave her.

He nodded his approval and held out his hand toward Ty. Sorcha’s heady feelings increased when Ty placed a flogger in Diego’s hand. He gave her a wicked grin, then started to tease her with light strokes, the strands making whispering soft noises as they landed on the ropes and her exposed flesh.

Each stroke was like a caress, and Sorcha thought she would die from sensory overload.

He concentrated on her stomach and thighs before whipping the flogger back and forth over her pussy. The strokes drove the rope harder into her clit and Sorcha fought the almost overwhelming sensation to come.

The look he gave her told her he knew exactly what she was feeling. He circled her and began to flog her back and buttocks, increasing the tempo until she wanted to scream in pleasure, wanted to beg him to let her come.

But he’d ordered silence, so she internalized her feelings and concentrated on the fact that she was pleasing him, that he would be happy that she’d done as ordered.

After he’d made a full circle of her body, bringing the flogger down on all her exposed skin, and on the ropes, he stepped behind her and licked her neck.

“Come, mi jugeute, but do it silently.” The order was soft and he tugged gently on the rope that rubbed her clit. Sorcha went flying, her body tensing up as her orgasm spilled forth. She pulled her lips between her teeth as her body pulsed, wave after wave of pleasure Sweet Silence

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rolling over her. She could hear the tinkling of the bells on her nipples and feel Diego’s hot breath on her neck as he whispered what a good girl she was.

When it had ended she went limp, and was surprised to hear applause. She opened her eyes to focus on the people watching her. She was so wrapped up in submitting to Diego’s ropes that she’d forgotten they were there.

She was too happy to feel anything but extreme pleasure, and too tired to blush. She was vaguely aware of Ty telling them that the show was over, and that it was time for them to move to the main room.

Diego caressed her sides as they moved out of the room. She felt him cut the rope that ran between her legs, releasing the pressure on her clit and anus. She didn’t know whether to sigh in relief or beg for its return.

Ty pressed the button to lower her arms and Diego caught her against his chest. He caressed her as he loosened ropes, not taking them off fully. He lowered her to her knees.

“Head down on the floor.” His lust was obvious as he spoke. She heard the door open and close as she lowered her head to the platform, and she figured Ty had left. Seconds later Diego mounted her, plunging into her wetness with a single hard thrust. He banged in and out of her with a ferocity she’d never felt before, his hands roughly gripping her hips.

Deep, guttural moans left his throat as he plunged back and forth, finally ending in what she knew must have been as powerful an orgasm as what she’d just felt. He stood quickly and she could hear him trying to get his breathing under control.

“Oh, Sorcha. Damn.”

“I know,” she said softly. “I love you, too, my liege.”

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Chapter Sixteen

“I like it. It’s in central Albuquerque, which makes it accessible to everyone. Plus, the windows are fantastic. Lots of lighting. Customers who have problems for us to solve will appreciate the light. It will make them feel better.”

Sorcha fingered the choker around her neck and watched Diego circle the room. She hoped her words would make him feel better about the office space they’d found for their as yet unnamed detective agency. She’d quickly nixed The Three Amigos, even though they all thought it was hilarious. His two partners, Walker Bryant and Orlando Gutierrez, were walking from office to office, nodding their heads in approval.

Sorcha had met Walker before, a tall, powerful man, who was also a Dom. She didn’t know anything about Orlando.

“Looks good,” Diego said. “We’re meeting at the lawyer’s office at ten tomorrow to sign papers?”

“Right,” Walker said at the same time Orlando said, “I’ll be there.”

Sorcha walked toward the back of the office to give them time to talk. She wasn’t part of the partnership, just an employee. She smiled to herself as she realized that she had a job, a real job with a weekly paycheck.

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In the four weeks since Diego had quit his job, they’d found a house in the country, with four bedrooms, one that Diego had already set up with his dungeon equipment. Once the papers were signed and the office space leased, the business would start. Diego anticipated a two-week waiting period in which he intended to use every free minute topping her.

Which was just fine with her. When Walker and Orlando called good-bye, she came back into the office to wave at them. They opened the door and left at the same time Ward came in, a big grin on his face.

“I take it the meeting with Jaymes’s attorneys went well.” Diego had a huge grin on his face.

“It was fantastic,” Ward said. “We got him, and they know it. You know we took the tape recording your cousin gave us to Jaymes’s top guy, Alex Morton, when we arrested him.

He denied everything, until we played the tape of Jaymes saying that everything was Alex’s idea. He sang like a bird. We got info to keep Jaymes locked up for years and years to come.”

“That’s fantastic.” Sorcha clapped her hands. “What happens now?”

“Trials,” Ward said. “With no chance of a plea bargain. We want to keep him locked up as long as possible. And now, we celebrate. I have a bottle of champagne in the car. I’ll go get it. Be right back.”

He left quickly and Sorcha turned to Diego. “Champagne?”

“Sure, you helped bring the big man down.”

“Tony helped. We need to thank Tony.”

She couldn’t decipher the look Diego gave her, and when the door opened and she turned toward it, tears filled her eyes.

“Tony!”

“Hola, prima.” He held out his arms and she ran to him. “Muchas gracias.”

She pulled back and wiped her face, then turned to Ward. “Thank you.”

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“Don’t thank me. He was up for parole anyway…well, fairly soon. I just pushed it along a little. He did a good thing and deserves the reward.”

“Champagne to celebrate, and I want a tour.” Ward handed the bottle to Diego, who peeled back the wrappings over the cork. “There’s no furniture.”

“Not yet,” Diego said. “But come back in two weeks and this place will be perfect. I promise you.”

* * * * *

Sorcha bounced on the seat of the truck, her hands tucked under her legs.

“If you come, you’ll be in such big trouble.” Diego shook his head as he piloted the car toward Tygers.

“This is so unfair.”

“What? Me arousing you and leaving you to hang for an hour or so? I love to watch you squirm. Besides, I’ve waited forever to get to use my new swing, haven’t I? I’ve been patient.”

“Only because you’ve been so busy getting the business ready.”

He pulled the truck into Tygers’ parking lot and turned to her.

“Nervous?”

“Very.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you come very, very hard beforehand.”

“Thank you, my liege.”

“Was that sarcasm I just heard?”

“No!”

“I think it was.”

“It’s just…well, nerves. How many people are coming?”

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“I invited about twenty. There might be more if Ty wants people to watch. It is mostly his club now, since two more owners sold out to him. Now it’s him and Sasha.”

She shook her head in frustration. “It just seems like this should be private.”

“And I want it public.” He put his finger under her chin and lifted her face to his.

“Who do you belong to?”

“You, Master Diego. I belong to you.”

“That’s right. You’re mine. All mine. Now, let’s go have some fun.”

They walked toward the door and were greeted by a man Sorcha didn’t know.

“Where’s Chess?” she whispered into Diego’s ear.

“Inside, waiting to see the, um, you know. This is subbie Price. He belongs to Mistress Sasha.”

“Master Diego. Subbie Sorcha.” He opened the door and they walked inside, through the public room, and to the private area where members could play. Without asking, Diego headed up the stairs to the more private rooms. Sorcha knew there was one at the end that was large, where public collaring ceremonies took place. She wondered if it had ever seen an event like Diego had planned for her.

The room was crowded with people. Sorcha saw Eric and Angel standing with Marcy, Lake, and Lucy. The newlyweds couldn’t keep their hands off each other. She wondered if she and Diego would ever marry. The idea had merit, but she didn’t want to push it. Right now, she was very, very happy going to sleep in his bed every night and waking up in his arms in the morning.

She felt safe, cared for, and loved, and knew it would always stay that way.

Diego waved his hand in front of her face. “Earth to Sorcha. Get undressed.”

She moved to the edge of the room and started to remove her clothing. With each piece, she studied faces, most of them she knew from sight, but didn’t know well.

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She noticed Diego’s new rope swing set up on one side of the room. Blair stood near it, talking to his wife and pointing out its features to several Doms who stood nearby. On the other side of the room was… Sorcha gulped. This was really happening. In front of everyone.

She could back out, she knew, but the only thing stopping her was nerves. She wanted to do this for Diego. Truly, she wanted to do it for herself, too, and for them, as a Dom and his sub.

When she was naked, Diego held out his hand. She took it and they walked to the swing. He’d told her before she was to remain silent, except to do her job if there was a problem.

He helped her into the swing, setting her ankles into the points fashioned for just that.

When she was settled she was spread-eagle, for everyone to see.

A thrill went through her body as Diego caressed her thighs.

“I want to thank you all for coming today, as I collar and pierce the subbie I’ve grown to love.”

Sorcha’s heart leapt in her chest. She knew he loved her, but he’d never used the word before. She felt tears leak from her eyes. It was just like him to do this to her in public, to spring something on her and make her all emotional.

Diego loved surprises.

“We’ll do the collaring in the swing, after I bind her, of course, because that’s what I do.” The crowd laughed along with him. “After that, we’ll move to a sturdier table to give her my rings. I will be doing the piercing under the guidance of sweet subbie Destiney, who has been teaching me for the last month, and who we all know is an artist in her own right.”

Everyone clapped, and Diego stepped in between Sorcha’s spread legs.

“I love you, my Sorcha,” he whispered to her.

“I love you, too, Master Diego. Always.”

A wicked gleam appeared in his eyes. “Good. Now let’s make you mine.”

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He picked up a long piece of red rope and moved to her side, doubling it over before he started to wrap it around her body.

She relaxed into the swing as he worked, the rope crossing this way and that. He would tie it off in spots and begin with a new piece. Every so often he would stop and tweak her nipples, or tickle her clit, bringing her close, but stopping just short of orgasm.

When she was fully bound to the swing, he stepped back and gave it a push. It rocked on the hinges that held it to the ceiling and Sorcha bit back panic. It would hold, she knew, and Diego would never do anything to put her in harm’s way.

He swung the chair again and the feeling of being on an amusement park ride overtook her, part fear, part elation. She was naked, bound to a chair for everyone to see. Bound by her Master.

“Does mi juguete want to come?” He gave the swing a hard push, then moved to the center of the room and turned to look back at her.

It rocked back and forth. Sorcha nodded.

“Beg me. Let’s hear it, Sorcha. Tell your Master how hard you want to come. Tell everyone. Be nasty for us.”

“Play with my clit.”

“What? I didn’t hear you.”

“Play with my clit.” She knew he’d heard that. He teased her bound legs.

“Louder.”

“Please, Master, please! Make me come. Pinch my clitty. Play with it. Tease it. Please!”

“Like this?” He took her clit between his thumb and forefinger, pinching the hard bud.

“Yes, yes, like that. Please! Please let me come!”

He pinched harder and said softly, “Now.”

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Sorcha’s hips bucked as best they could as she rode out her orgasm. It tore through her like a tornado, making her body tingle with physical pleasure. Along with it came the realization she was being watched. She loved it. Reveled in it. Her Master was right. She was an exhibitionist.

“Again.” Diego pinched her clit and a second orgasm tore ripped along the same path as the first one. When it was over, Sorcha lay panting and sweating in the chair, Diego’s face right above her.

“Are you my little slut?” He’d said it for her ears only.

“Yes, my liege. I’m your little slut.”

“Good. It may take three weeks for your clit to heal after tonight, but remember, I can still fuck that ass.”

He stood and walked to a table, picking up a stainless steel collar. The collar had several D-rings placed around it. Hanging from the ring at the front was a large circular tag.

“Read the tag for our guests,” Diego said after placing the collar near her face.

“Sorcha, owned by Master Diego as his juguete.”

“That’s right, my toy. Kiss the collar, Sorcha. Show me you accept my gift of dominance, and in return, give me your gift of submission.”

The steel was cold against her lips, but Sorcha kissed it, and the tag.

Diego went behind her and fastened it around her neck, locking it in place and holding up the key for everyone to see.

“I claim Sorcha as my twenty-four-seven submissive. I promise to love and care for her, to see she comes to no harm. I also promise to use her body at will, for my pleasure, and her own.”

The crowd laughed and clapped as Sorcha looked up at him.

“Are you going to pierce me now?”

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“Yup.” He stood staring down at her.

“Aren’t you going to untie me?”

“Nope.”

“But, how?”

“Silence, Sorcha.”

He moved to the center of the room. “Now, I know I said we’d be using the table for the piercing. But, I lied. I love to keep my subbie on the edge and wondering about what I’m going to do. She’s never quite sure if things will go as planned, or if I’ll throw a wrench into the scene.”

Sorcha nodded even as her heart beat just a little faster. What was he up to?

“There’s something about a bound woman that just makes me nuts. It’s so submissive.

So sweet. She trusts me enough to wrap ropes around her body. And that’s how I want to pierce her. While she’s bound.

“Now, I know a lot of you are wondering about the swing. It’s true the swing isn’t the best place for piercing. So, we’ve borrowed furniture from one of the other rooms.

Gentlemen, if you will.”

Chess and another man got up and walked to the door. Sorcha watched them, and as the man walked she realized it was Dario.

“Your brother?”

“Yeah, he wanted to watch.”

The two men wheeled in a dentist’s chair, setting it under Sorcha’s suspended body.

When it was in place, they hooked it to the floor using ropes and pulleys Sorcha hadn’t even noticed were there.

Diego came up and stroked her cheek. “Everything feeling fine?”

“Yes, Master.”

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“Destiney? Are you ready?” The woman moved up next to Sorcha, running her hand down her cheek.

“Yes, Master Diego. I’m ready to assist you.”

“Dario. Will you hold the tray for me, please?”

“Love to.” He took it, and let his gaze roam over Sorcha’s body. “Very nice.”

“Hey,” Diego hissed under his breath. “Get your own.”

“I plan to, thank you very much. You can’t put her on display and then get pissed because I say she’s beautiful.”

“Oh yes, I can. I told you, I don’t share.”

“I didn’t ask you to. I simply said she was gorgeous.”

“So now it’s gorgeous? Listen, buddy…”

“Boys,” Sorcha said softly. “Can we argue later? I’d like to get on with this before I lose my dinner because of nerves.”

“Estoy apesadumbrado, mi pequeña juguete

,” Diego said. “He just makes me mad and

needs to have his ass kicked.”

Dario laughed. “In your dreams, big brother. I’m bigger than you are.”

“Size isn’t everything.”

“Oh yeah, well…”

“Gentlemen.” Destiney’s voice was firm. “The piercings?”

Diego laughed. “Welcome home, little brother.” He turned to Sorcha. “Ready?”

“Are you?” She shot him a worried look. “Or would you rather fight with your brother?

We do have an audience, remember?”

“Her first bad behavior as my collared sub. I can hardly wait to punish her.” He picked up an instrument from the tray Dario held.

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Sorcha took deep, calming breaths as Diego and Destiney cleaned her nipples, marked the best spot for piercing, then began the procedure. It stung, but didn’t hurt nearly as bad as she thought it would. When they were done, Diego fastened balls at the end of each circular barbell that now hung from each nipple.

Sorcha knew the nipple piercings would take a while to heal, and playing with them would be off limits. By contrast, it would take far less time for the clit hood piercing to heal.

But she was sure it would hurt much more. She was wrong, though. There was only a slight jolt to her body when Diego pushed the needle through skin of her clit hood. He did it all under Destiney’s watchful eyes. The pain hadn’t been nearly as bad as she’d thought it would be.

The pain quickly faded when he pushed the jewelry through her skin, attaching the balls, one that rested on her clit and made her groan in pleasure.

“She likes it already,” Diego said softly. He stood near her face and kissed her gently.

“All done.”

He lifted his brows in question and she nodded. “I’m fine.”

“You’re beautiful,” he replied. “So beautiful.”

He straightened and turned to his brother. “Dario, will you help me cut away her bonds?”

“Of course, mi hermano.”

The brothers used safety sheers to free her from the ropes and Diego checked her carefully, and made her sit still for a while. Members of the audience came up to admire the piercings, and to say congratulations on the collaring.

When most of the crowd was gone, Sorcha turned to Diego. “Thank you for my rings.

It means a great deal to me that you did them yourself.”

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“Always a pleasure to play with your body, mi juguete. At least the pussy heals faster than the nipples. You’ll be back in the saddle in no time; Destiney says it could be as little as a week, or as much as six. Depends on how your body reacts.”

“You mean you’ll be in the saddle. In the form of me.”

“True. But I’ll give you a really good ride, I promise. Will you ask for me to ride you?”

“Yes, Master, I will.”

Their voices were low as people milled around them.

“Ask me.”

“I want you to ride me, Master, when I’m healed. Take me everywhere.”

“You mean go on vacation?” The humor in his voice made her chuckle.

“No. I mean ride me in my mouth, my pussy, and my ass. Especially my ass.”

“You mean my ass, Sorcha. Because that ass belongs to me, now, just like you do. I own your body, don’t I?”

“Every inch of it, my liege.”

He toyed with the tag on the end of her D-ring. “Owned by Master Diego, lock, stock, and barrel.”

She shivered and he pulled her close.

“Can I get dressed now?”

“Not yet. I’m thinking about making you stay this way all night.”

“But we’re going to the main room. And I’m naked.”

“That’s right. And you know you love being on display. I know I love it.”

He picked up a piece of rope from the floor, judged its length, and picked up a shorter one. After tying it to her D-ring he pulled her close.

“Remember, you’re on display because I, your owner, your Master, want you to be.”

She nodded.

Sweet Silence

163

“Who do you belong to? Who owns you?’

“You, Master Diego, my liege. You own me.”

He kissed the tip of her nose.

“Let’s celebrate.” He turned to Dario, Eric and Angel, and Lake and Lucy. “First round’s on me.”

He led her from the room. Sorcha’s new piercings tingled, and excitement coursed through her as they moved to the main room. Diego was right. She loved every minute of it.

She trusted Diego and would follow him to the ends of the earth. With or without a leash.

Melinda Barron

Melinda Barron loves to explore Egyptian tombs and temples, discover Mayan ruins, play in castles towers, and explore new cities and countries. She generally does it all from the comfort of her home by opening a book.

Melinda is the fourth of five children born to an Army officer and his wife. A longtime newspaper journalist, Melinda has loved to read and write from an early age. Now she lives in the Texas Panhandle with two cats, Amelia and Pippin, and enough books to, according to her brother, open her own library. In addition to reading and writing Melinda enjoys travel, cross-stitching, watching movies and spending time with her friends and family.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen