“Thank you,” I whisper.
We lay in silence for a few moments as he pulls me against him, holding me in the only arms that can make me feel safe. We just had such a sweet moment and I don’t want to ruin it, but I can’t let go of the collar issue. I feel like a depraved animal asking for such a thing, but I can’t stop the image from playing through my mind.
“Back to our original subject,” I say in my best casual tone. “The collar. I want you to really use it on me, you know… during sex.”
He frowns, but I can see the heat in his eyes even as he speaks.
“I don’t know Victoria, it might be too soon. I don’t ever want you to feel like…”
I hold up my hand, stopping him mid-sentence. “See! This is exactly why I didn’t want to tell you what I did. It’s starting already. I’m not a delicate little flower that you have to coddle. I don’t want that and I know you don’t either. So please don’t treat me that way. I don’t want your pity.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks, his eyes darkening to a stormy shade of gray, and I realize I’ve woken the beast again. Part of me is happy, and the other part is wondering what I’ve gotten myself into as he stalks out of the room.
“Don’t fucking move,” he calls over his shoulder.
I hear him rummaging through something down the hallway for several moments before he reappears with some mysterious objects in his fisted hands.
“You want it rough?” he barks at me, eyes blazing.
I jump at his tone but nod meekly. This is what I asked for.
“Yes,” I whisper.
“Get on your knees,” he orders.
I do as I’m told, sinking to the floor below, my hands resting nervously on my thighs.
I keep my head down, watching as his feet circle around and stop behind me. “I think you forget who’s in control here, Victoria,” he says coolly. “Perhaps it’s time I reacquaint you.”
I nod in response, unable to find my voice. I’m not scared because I trust him implicitly. This is what I need from him. The part of him that can take me to the darkest places, but always bring me back. The part of him that makes it okay to like these things.
Gabriel’s breath is harsh as he fists his hand in my hair and gives me a brutal but all too brief kiss. When he pulls away, I’m left gasping for breath, and before I can even catch it, I feel the smack across my back. It burns into my skin, searing me with a mixture of pain followed by pleasure. The soft leather strands trail along my skin, pulling away before he swats me again.
“Shall I keep going?” he asks huskily. “Or will you remember why you’re being punished.”
I think for a moment and then realize my mistake. But I’m not ready to atone yet, and after all the emotional overload of the last week, I need to feel this. I hold back the words he’s waiting for me to say, and nod in silence.
Another smack against my skin. I moan and gasp for air as the smacks grow quicker and harder. I remain still as I take the blows, thriving on the nerves awakening in my body. I close my eyes, soaking up everything he has to give me until he stops and speaks again.
“Had enough yet?” he asks in a strained voice.
“I’m sorry Gabriel,” I whisper. I could keep going, but I know this is difficult for him. I don’t want him to feel like he’s hurting me.
“Very good,” he praises me.
He kneels down behind me, pulling my arms behind my back and securing them with strong leather cuffs. He repeats the process with my ankles before binding them all together with chains. When he stands, he has a long silver chain dangling from his palm. He reaches down and clasps it to the loop on my collar.
Moisture pools between my legs as he walks backward, extending the chain in his hand as far as it will go. The metal is pulled taut against my collar, making me feel every bit the depraved animal I am for wanting this scenario. Gabriel’s completely naked, his cock swollen and hard as his eyes burn into my flesh. The perfect male specimen. Rough, controlling, possessive. I revel in it, my eyes raking his body without any fear of retribution.
He lets the chain slacken for a moment, and then with a hard jerk pulls it backwards, effectively bringing me with it. I try to keep my balance with my hands fastened behind my back, crawling awkwardly on my knees to where he stands. He gathers the chain in his palm, effectively bringing my face up to meet his hard cock. I open my mouth greedily and take in the swollen head, tasting him on my tongue.